Matzo Brei Gluten-Free Dairy-Free

Matzo Brei is a fast and crunchy alternative to pancakes or waffles any morning of the year. Personally, I eat gluten-free matzo all year round, but it is around the Jewish holiday of Passover when observant Jews cannot eat unleaved bread, that people tend to focus on this tasty cracker. This classic Passover breakfast is light and delicious, so don’t wait until holiday time to try it.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 large EGGS
4 sheets of regular GLUTEN-FREE MATZO style crackers
1/2 cup CASHEW MILK (or other milk alternative)
2 tablespoons of VEGAN BUTTER (I use Earth Balance non-soy)
SALT to taste
CINNAMON to taste
STRAWBERRIES (or other berries), maple syrup or honey, or even jam

Directions

In a large bowl, BEAT the eggs and WHISK in the milk. ADD salt to taste (but if using salted matzo, be sparing)
RUN each matzo board under cold water for 10-20 seconds a side, until it begins to soften. The amount of time depends on the type of matzo you are using. I recommend just plain flavored, not egg or onion. Don’t let it get too soft because it will become mushy.
SHAKE off excess water and BREAK the matzo boards into 1/2″ pieces and SOAK them in the egg/milk mixture for a minute or 2
While the matzo is soaking, HEAT a large skillet on medium-high heat until hot and then MELT the butter in it
ADD the soaked matzo to the skillet and let it COOK for about 60-90 seconds into a pancake. Sprinkle with cinnamon at this point if you desire.
- Some people like to scramble the matzo brei instead. If you would like to try it that way just saute it while cooking instead of letting it set into a giant pancake.
FLIP the pancake in one big piece, or SPLIT the pancake into 4 sections and flip each section over, and COOK an addition 30-60 seconds.
SERVE immediately with optional toppings
STORE in an air-tight container for 1-2 days

Chocolate Toffee Matzo Bark for Passover Gluten-free Vegan

Being dairy-free, I love when Passover comes around because the desserts are among my favorites. I created this gluten-free vegan Matzo Bark as an alternative to all the cakes and macaroons that I make this time of year. If you want to make it Kosher for Passover, then make sure to get Shmurah matzo. You can top this with any type of nut or even cherries or cranberries. Let me know what you think.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour

Servings: 12-16

Ingredients

5-6 gluten-free SALTED MATZO-Style boards 
    If making for Passover use Shmurah matzo
1 cup DARK BROWN SUGAR, packed
1 stick VEGAN BUTTER (Soy-free Earth Balance)
2 cups VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIPS (Enjoy Life)
1/2 teaspoon pure VANILLA
Pinch of SEA SALT
1/2 cup SALTED PEANUTS, smashed/finely chopped
1/2 cup ROASTED ALMONDS, chopped
Non-stick COOKING SPRAY
PARCHMENT paper

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F
LINE rimmed baking dish with parchment and SPRAY with non-stick spray
COVER the bottom of the baking dish with a single layer of matzo. Break the pieces if you need to make them fit.
In a saucepan over medium heat, COMBINE sugar and butter, STIR frequently until it bubbles and boils. Be careful not to burn the syrup. BOIL for 1-minute stirring constantly.
ADD a big pinch of salt and the vanilla to the syrup
POUR the syrup over the matzo and SPREAD evenly with a heat-proof spatula
BAKE 7-10 minutes until toffee syrup is bubbling. Make sure to check frequently so that it does not burn.
REMOVE from the oven and immediately SPRINKLE the chocolate chips over the toffee and let it MELT for 1-3 minute from the heat of the syrup
SPREAD the melted chocolate chips evenly with a heat-proof spatula
SPRINKLE the nuts over the chocolate and PRESS gently so that they stick well
REFRIGERATE the sheet for 30 minutes to 1 hour until hard
BREAK the matzo boards into pieces and store in an air-tight container until ready to serve
STORE in the refrigerator for up to 5 days

Use original gluten-free matzo-style squares

Grandma’s Potato Latkes – Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free

This Hanukkah treat is all about the frying. It represents the magic of the oil that lit the menorah (holy candelabra) for 8 days when there was only enough oil for 1 day. There is no dairy in this dish and by using gluten-free matzo meal it’s just like my mother made. I remember grinding 10 pounds of potatoes by hand with a meat grinder, luckily today I use a food processor. For the no egg, Vegan version, check out my other recipe.

Preparation Time: 20 -30 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes a pancake/batch

Servings: 8

Ingredients

3 cups POTATOES, grated and drained well 
     About 8 medium Yukon Gold or Idaho
1 large ONION, grated 
2 EGGS, beaten
1 teaspoon SALT
1/4 teaspoon BLACK PEPPER
2 tablespoons gluten-free MATZO MEAL
1/2 cup Vegan BUTTER or other light oil for frying
Roll of PAPER TOWELS
APPLESAUCE or Vegan SOUR CREAM, optional

Directions

Using a fine or medium grater blade on your food processor,* GRATE the potatoes
DRAIN the grated potatoes really well before continuing. I put the grated potatoes in a big wire strainer over a large bowl. I then place a plate over the mixture and press down gently to express the potato starch. Get rid of as much liquid as you can. Warning: potato starch is really messy.
Using a medium grater blade on your food processor,* GRATE the onion (or finely chop if you prefer). Keep the onion juice and add to the mix for flavor.
In a large bowl, ADD the onion to the drained potatoes and mix well
BEAT the eggs and ADD to the onion/potato mixture
STIR in the seasonings and matzo meal
HEAT a small amount of the butter or oil in a large frying pan. Let it get hot
SPOON (or I use my hands and make patties so I can squeeze out any excess liquid) the mixture into the frying pan and form pancakes. I usually get 6 to 8 pancakes in the pan at a time
FLATTEN the pancakes with a spatula
FRY each pancake for about 5 minutes over medium heat, then turn over until nicely browned on both sides. (I like my latkes dark and crisp, but my spouse likes them undercooked, so it’s up to your taste how long you fry)
Layer paper towels on a plate or cookie sheet and place the cooked latkes on the paper towels to DRAIN. I make so many that I build a tower of draining latkes in paper towel tiers
Add more butter or oil as required to fry the next batch
Serve hot with applesauce or vegan sour cream

*To make latkes without a food processor, just grate the potatoes manually, chop the onions as finely as possible (or grate them too) and follow the rest of the instructions above.

This recipe was inspired by Jennie Grossinger from “The Art Of Jewish Cooking,” personally autographed to my mother in 1958 by Jennie.

Peel potatoes
Slice before grating in food processor
Grate potatoes in food processor
Add grated onion, eggs, matzo meal and spices to the potatos
FRY, FRY, FRY!
Blot on paper towels to get the oil out.

Vegan Potato Latkes

By replacing eggs with tofu, these amazing potato latkes (pancakes) are the perfect fried dish to celebrate Hanukkah. I use two frying pans to keep the production line going. People start stealing them from the plate before I ever get them to the table.

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes a pancake/batch

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

3 cups POTATOES (about 8 medium Yukon Gold or Idaho), drained well
1/2 pound firm TOFU, drained well
1 large ONION
1 teaspoon SALT
1/4 teaspoon BLACK PEPPER
1 clove GARLIC, optional
2 tablespoons gluten-free MATZO MEAL
1/2 cup Vegan BUTTER or other light oil for frying
Roll of PAPER TOWELS
APPLESAUCE or Vegan SOUR CREAM, optional

Directions

Using a fine or medium grater blade on your food processor,* GRATE the potatoes
DRAIN the grated potatoes really well before continuing. I put the grated potatoes in a big wire strainer over a large bowl. I then place a plate over the mixture and press down gently to express the potato starch
Using a medium grater blade on your food processor,* GRATE the onion (or finely chop if you prefer)
In a large bowl, ADD the onion to the drained potatoes and mix well
PROCESS or MASH the tofu until it is creamy with a few lumps
ADD the tofu to the onion/potato mixture
STIR in the seasonings and matzo meal
HEAT a small amount of the butter or oil in a large frying pan. Let it get hot
SPOON (or I use my hands and make patties) the mixture into the frying pan and form pancakes. I usually get 6 to 8 pancakes in the pan at a time
FLATTEN the pancakes with a spatula
FRY each pancake for about 5 minutes over medium heat, then turn over until nicely browned on both sides. (I like my latkes dark and crisp, but my spouse likes them undercooked, so it’s up to your taste how long you fry)
Layer paper towels on a plate or cookie sheet and place the cooked latkes on the paper towels to DRAIN. I make so many that I build a tower of draining latkes in paper towel tiers
Add more butter or oil as required to fry the next batch
Serve hot with applesauce or vegan sour cream

*To make latkes without a food processor, just grate the potatoes manually, chop the onions as finely as possible (or grate them too), mash the tofu, and follow the rest of the instructions above.

This recipe was inspired by Jennie Grossinger from “The Art Of Jewish Cooking,” personally autographed to my mother in 1958 by Jennie.

Potato Latkes Crisp & Hot