16 Wildly Awesome Things To Do With Matzo
These might just have you craving the stuff year round. 😉
Whether you’ve been celebrating Passover your whole life or are new to the Jewish holiday, we bet you’re familiar with matzo…and how difficult it can be to come up with new and exciting ways to use it! We’ve included all the classics here (mm, chocolate matzo toffee), as well as some new and innovative spins—they’re perfect for every meal, from breakfast to dessert, all Passover week long.
You can’t talk about matzo without mentioning the most comforting recipe of all time—matzo ball soup. We think our recipe featuring homemade chicken broth, lots of veggies (carrots, celery, turnips, and parsnips!), and chicken fat (or schmaltz) is the best, and we crave it all year round. We’ve also got a vegetarian matzo ball soup we're just as proud of, so even those who are abstaining from meat this holiday can get in on the cozy action.
Another standout of the season? Matzo brei, a sweet or savory eggy dish that can be enjoyed any time of day (though many people like it for breakfast). Ours leans more savory, but is easily adjusted if you and yours prefer it sweet. Try it with sour cream and chives like we did, or swap them out for applesauce and maple syrup.
We’ve also got some, shall we say, not-so-traditional options here that might just blow your mind. Our matzo granola comes in clutch for breakfast or as a snack all week long—try it over yogurt for a meal you can eat any time of day. Our pastrami matzo kugel is proof that though matzo kugels often get outshone by potato or noodle varieties, they’re definitely worth a revisit. It tastes just like a Reuben, sans bread! Similarly, our matzo icebox cake tastes remarkably like tiramisu, with the matzo replacing the ladyfingers to great effect. Give these wild recipes a try and get inspired—matzo truly can do anything you put your mind to.
Want even more Passover ideas? Check out our Passover sides, apps, and mains too.
Chicken Matzo Ball Soup
A symbolic dish of past hardships, warming matzo ball soup is an essential component of the Passover feast. The time and effort you invest really pays off here; plus, it couldn’t be easier. Throw a few roughly chopped vegetables, a whole chicken or two, some herbs, and chicken stock into a large pot and basically walk away for two hours.
Get the Chicken Matzo Ball Soup recipe.
Matzoh Icebox Cake
This tastes just like tiramisu! Make it the day before your celebration to ensure the matzo has enough time to soak and turn cakey.
Get the Matzoh Icebox Cake recipe.
Pastrami Matzo Kugel
Of all the various kugels (potato and noodle being the most popular), matzo kugel tends to not get any love. This incredibly flavorful Reuben-inspired recipe is here to change all that.
Get the Pastrami Matzo Kugel recipe.
Matzo Brei
We like sour cream and chives on our savory version, but you could also go sweet (breakfast for dinner?) with applesauce, jam, or even maple syrup. To make this more desserty, skip the onions and add a little sugar and cinnamon. Yum!
Get the Savory Matzo Brei recipe.
Chocolate Toffee Matzo
This candy has become a post-seder classic and is a great way to utilize any extra matzo you bought. Make a lot and give as gifts!
Get the Chocolate Toffee Matzo recipe.
Matzo Granola
Observing Passover doesn’t have to mean missing out on your favorite carby breakfast foods, especially if you’re a cereal nut. When crumbled by hand, the ever-versatile unsalted matzo makes a crisp yet hearty base for the perfect granola.
Get the Matzo Granola recipe.
Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup
Cozy and nourishing, we crave matzo ball soup pretty much year-round, though it's a MUST for Passover. Although schmaltz (AKA chicken fat) and chicken broth are typically included in this classic Ashkenazi Jewish soup, it’s not hard to swap in vegetarian-friendly ingredients.
Get the Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup recipe.
Matzoh Ball Shooters
These are the cutest way to enjoy matzo ball soup. Make your matzo balls extra small to make these extra adorable.
Get the Matzo Ball Shooters recipe.
Matzoh Lasagna
Or "matzagna," if you will. 😉 Though a little untraditional, this dish is one of our favorite ways to eat matzo for dinner during Passover.
Get the Matzo Lasagna recipe.
Homemade Matzo
Passover week can get a little, shall we say, repetitive, especially if you've got kids. If yours are driving you up the wall, try making homemade matzo with them! It's an intimate tribute to the story of Passover and is a mitzvah to make it with your own hands.
Get the Homemade Matzo recipe.
Matzo-Crusted Salmon with Glazed Radicchio
Upgrade salmon—ever the dinner staple—with matzo bread crumbs and maple syrup, hot sauce, and brown-sugar glazed radicchio.
Get the Matzo-Crusted Salmon with Glazed Radicchio from Good Housekeeping.
Matzo Toasts
Slather crispy matzo with these creative toppings ideas—almond butter and bananas! strawberries + cream cheese! hummus + radishes!—all Passover long.
Get the Matzo Toasts recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Beet Latkes
The earthy flavor and starchiness of beets make them the ideal replacement for some of the potatoes in this holiday classic. Try this recipe with shredded carrots and zucchini too!
Get the Beet Latkes recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Choco-Caramel Matzo Brittle
Do you have leftover matzo? Try out our recipe for the extra Passover crackers. This brittle might just be the best thing since unleavened bread. 😋
Get the Choco-Caramel Matzo Brittle recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Spring Greens Matzo Frittata
This frittata—filled with asparagus, basil, and peas (skip or swap if you don't eat kitniyot on Passover)—just screams spring. Best part? You can prep it up to three days in advance!
Get the Spring Greens Matzo Frittata recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Matzo Stuffing
Matzo meal and chicken broth are added together slowly to ensure this stuffing is deliciously moist. Apples and cinnamon impart a little hint of sweetness that is surprisingly delightful too.
Get the Matzo Stuffing recipe from Country Living.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
