How to make your own matzo bread for Passover this year
April 13, 2022 | General
We all know food is an integral part of Jewish celebrations, and Passover is no exception. Passover, an eight-day-long celebration that commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, is recognized by the iconic matzo bread.
Featured prominently during the Passover Seder, matzo is an unleavened bread originally intended to last for long periods of time. The message behind matzo is much more complex than the food itself. Matzo was served to Jewish people when they were enslaved in Egypt and was also the nourishment that carried them through the desert when they left in great haste. It symbolizes redemption and freedom while also serving as a representation of a life of poverty and slavery.
This Passover, we wanted to share a recipe to help you make kosher matzo to enjoy with your family and loved ones.
Note: If you do not need the matzo to be kosher, you may disregard the time constraints.
Ingredients:
- 4 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ cups plus ½ warm water
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 500°F.
- In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together, starting with the warm water. This will create a soft and slightly moist dough. If the dough is too dry, add more warm water a few drops at a time (the dough should not be sticky).
- Immediately divide the dough into 18 separate pieces. Roll the dough as thinly as possible.
- Trim the rolled pieces of dough into the desired shape (possibly a rectangle).
- Use a fork to prick holes in the surface of the dough. Lightly salt the top of the dough.
- Place rolled-out dough onto a pizza stone or baking sheet with a small amount of breathing room between each piece.
- Bake for 30-90 seconds or until golden brown and bubbly.
- Carefully pull the pizza stone or baking sheet out of the oven. Using tongs, flip each piece of matzo and repeat the baking instructions on the other side.
- Let the matzo cool before serving – then, enjoy!
