Spring is one of the busiest times on my blog because people around the world are looking for matzo recipes for Passover. Here are some of my favorites in one handy page plus everything you wanted to know about matzo but were afraid to ask!
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What is matzo?
Matzo – also spelled matzah or matzoh – is essentially Jewish flatbread. Crispy and cracker-like, matzo serves as the symbolic centerpiece of Passover. During Passover we tell the story of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt after escaping the cruel slavery of the ruling Pharaoh.
Why eat matzo on Passover?
In their haste to leave, the Jews didn’t have time to let their bread rise and Jewish unleavened bread or matzo was born. Sometimes called the bread of affliction, matzo symbolizes the suffering of the slaves and their subsequent rush to freedom.
This unleavened cracker comes in many forms
The basic matzo is flour and water and a touch of salt. Around Passover, you will usually see egg matzos – which have more color and are a bit less crunchy and dry than regular matzo. Often, unsalted matzo, whole wheat matzo, gluten-free matzo and even onion-flavored matzo is available around the Pesach (Passover) season. But for your Seder table, be sure to stock up on plain kosher for Passover matzo.
Other ways to use matzo during Passover
Since traditional flour is forbidden during Passover, if you are following the dietary rules of the holiday, matzo stands in in many forms – matzo farfel, matzo meal, and matzo cake meal.
- Matzo Farfel: Matzo farfel is just a board of matzo broken up into little pieces and is ideal for making kugels. Want to see how it’s used? Check out my apple kugel or apricot apple kugel recipes. You can make matzo farfel yourself by putting boards of matzo into a ziploc bag and rolling over them with a rolling pin. Or you can buy farfel online or where you buy your Passover products.
- Matzo Meal: If you put the broken pieces in a food processor and grind it up finer, then you have matzo meal. Yes, you can buy matzo meal in a box or can online or at the store. Essentially the consistency of fine bread crumbs, matzo meal is used in matzo balls, potato pancakes, some dessert recipes, and as a breading, just to name a few possibilities.
- Matzo Cake Meal is even more finely ground and is often used as a substitute for flour in baked goods. In my book, the Essential Jewish baking cookbook, for example, I use a combination of potato starch and matzo cake meal in my sponge cake. Either grind your matzo very fine in your food processor or again, you can buy matzo cake meal online or in your favorite Passover products store.
The trifecta of matzo derivatives: (from top to bottom) matzo farfel, matzo meal, and matzo cake flour
Where can you buy matzo?
While you can find matzo in most grocery stores year-round, matzo for Passover has been blessed by a rabbi and is therefore officially kosher for Passover. Be sure to read the box before you buy it if “official kosher for Passover matzo” is important to you. Most grocery stores will carry an extra stock of Pesach foods including matzo as the Passover season approaches or you can order kosher for Passover matzo online.
The great matzo ball recipe debate
One of the most popular dishes during Passover is matzo ball soup. One contentious issue that garners great debate all over the Internet and at many Passover seders is whether you prefer matzo balls that float or sink. We prefer floaters — lighter but still with a bite. So I developed this recipe for matzo ball soup – including how to make lighter matzo balls and homemade chicken stock. We make our balls with matzo meal, eggs, some kind of fat (schmaltz or oil), and a little seltzer, parsley for color, and salt and pepper.
Matzo brei – another Passover favorite
Matzo brei is usually a breakfast food or snack food made from broken pieces of matzo, usually bigger than farfel size. First soaked in water or possibly milk, the matzo is then scrambled with eggs and finished with cinnamon sugar. Or if savory is your thing, sautéed onions are added to the mix.
What is schmura matzo?
Beyond the standard kosher for Passover matzo available during the holiday season, schmura matzo is an even more strictly guarded preparation. The matzo-making is guarded from field to factory to ensure no water comes in contact with the wheat. Water could begin the fermenting process which creates “hametz” or the leavened part of wheat bread.
Schmura matzo is often round and considerably more expensive than standard square matzo boards. Check out this informational matzo video showing exactly how this matzo is made!
Here are all of my matzo-based recipes. Whether you prefer a traditional passover meal or an updated variation, these recipes will help you create a seder menu, bring a dish to another host’s home, or just feed your family throughout the 7 (or 8) days of Passover. Matzo Ball Soup - the quintessential Passover dish and year-round comfort food. Find a recipe for fluffy matzo balls and homemade chicken stock. You’ll love the light fluffy result of this simple Passover recipe staple. Make this matzo meal pancake your own by pan frying in butter or olive oil or coconut oil and experimenting with toppings. Not a matzo recipe exactly, but so yummy with a matzo meal pancake and for so many other meals on Passover, I just had to include it! One of the most popular posts on my blog, this matzo farfel kugel recipe will put you on the road to kugel mastery. This version is inspired by a recipe a reader sent to me. It offers some lightened up options if you are feeling overwhelmed by the number of eggs in your Passover preparations. Potato Kugel is a perfect side dish for your Passover seder. This crispy kugel uses carrots, parsley, and some dried herbs to brighten and lighten it up. All the best of the traditional dish with some tasty twists. This classic recipe originally created by Marcy Goldman in A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking offers new toppings and slight changes to the ingredient amounts. Simple to make ahead and refrigerate or freeze and adaptable to different dietary restrictions or flavor profiles. Who says latkes are only for Hanukkah? Made with matzo meal and very Passover friendly - why not treat yourself!Matzo Recipes for Passover
How to Make Homemade Matzo Ball Soup
Bubbe’s Bubula - Recreating my Grandma's Puffy Matzo Meal Pancake
Fresh Fruit Compote for your Matzo Meal Pancake!
Apple Matzo Farfel Kugel
Apricot Apple Matzo Farfel Kugel
Potato Kugel - Passover Tradition with a Twist
Chocolate-covered Matzo with Toasted Nuts and Sea Salt
The Best Latke Recipe
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Jenni
Such an informative post, Beth! I don’t have a lot of experience with matzo, but I love the many ways it can be used at Passover (or whenever)!
Beth Lee
Well I can tell you that matzo would be really good with butterscotch – what else do you need to know 🙂
Laura
I learned so much about matzo – thank you for explaining everything so well. Can’t wait to try your matzo meal pancakes!
Beth Lee
I’ll have you feeling 100% Jewish in no time at all
Sandi
This is the perfect roundup for anyone who is celebrating Passover. The Matzo Kugel looks amazing!
Beth Lee
Thank Sandi! I aim to please and educate and destress.