Thanks to this 15 minute matzo brei pizza recipe, you can finally eat pizza for breakfast - on Passover! This amazing eggy matzo pizza is topped with tomato sauce and shredded cheese for a twist on the familiar matzo brei breakfast recipe.
You can make it with regular homemade matzo or gluten free matzah for a gluten-free breakfast alternative that is kosher for Passover!
If you’re looking for a meal that both kids and adults will love, then let me introduce you to my Matzo Brei Pizza. In my house, we call this Passover Pizza or Pizza Brei because it’s my kids' favorite thing to eat during the Jewish holiday. (And honestly, my husband and I can’t seem to resist it either). And finally, it's a good excuse to eat breakfast pizza!
Growing up in Israel, matzo pizza was one of my favorite treats, but combining matzo pizza with matzo brei recipe is a whole new experience. I admit, this recipe for a crispy crust matzo pizza topped with red sauce is a far cry from tradition like my matzo lasanga... And it will definitely raise some eyebrows from purists. But to me and my family, this is the best way to start (or end) Passover!
What is Matzo Brei?
If you don't know what matzo brei is, you're not alone. Matzo brei is a classic Ashkenazi recipe that’s often served as a Passover breakfast, a star in my Passover Recipe Roundup. The main ingredient of the dish is matzo - a thin, unleavened bread that’s made from flour and water. It’s a key part of the Passover holiday and represents how the Israelites fled Egypt with such haste that they had no time for their bread to rise. If you are looking for more of a classic matzo brei recipe, I recommend checking out my sweet matzo brei recipe for passover French toast, the classic fried matzo brei recipe, or kneidlach (absolutely delicious matzo balls recipe).
Matzo brei, or fried matzah, soaks matzo in water and then fries it together with eggs and other ingredients until it’s nice and crunchy. It's basically an omelette with matza in it! It’s an easy meal to whip up that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, texture, or comfort.
Ingredient Highlights for a Matzo Brei Pizza
The base of this recipe are the matzo sheets - feel free to use your preferred store-bought matzo crackers, homemade matzah, egg matzah or gluten-free matzah. Then, make sure to choose tomato sauce that you like best. Personally I love chunky tomato sauce and stick to this homemade tomato sauce recipe. You'll also need cheese. I use shredded mozzarella, but but you can use any pre-shredded cheese mix you like for you matzah pizza!
Equipment
- Small skillet
- Spatula
How to Make Kosher Matzo Pizza (Matzah Pizza)
Prep matzo
Run matzo under a tap of running water for 30 seconds. Alternatively, fill a large bowl or casserole dish with cold water and submerge the matzo crackers in it for 20-30 seconds (if using gluten-free matzo, 20 seconds are enough).
Make matzo brei
To prepare matzo brei, break matzo into small pieces or about 1-2 inches. Transfer to a large bowl or casserole dish.
In a small bowl, beat eggs thoroughly. Add milk, salt and pepper, and stir well to combine.
Pour the egg mixture on top of the softened pieces of matzo. Mix well to combine.
Cook pizza matzo brei
Set a skillet to medium heat. Melt butter, Earth Balance, or olive oil.
Add matzos and egg mixture to a small pan, and mix well. Let cook for 5 minutes without stirring, until the eggs are set. You should have a large matzo brei pancake in your skillet. Loosen the edges of the matza brei with a spatula, and flip in one piece (if it doesn't flip easily, add a bit of oil and wait a bit longer before trying again).
Ladle the sauce on the pizza. Top with shredded cheese.
Optional: this is the time to add any yummy toppings you like! Veggie pepperoni slices, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, sliced onions and even broccoli are some of our favorites.
Cover the matza pizza with a lid, and let cook another 5 minutes on the other side, until you have a crispy crust and bubbly cheese on top. Remove the pan from heat and slide the pizza onto a cutting board.
Serve matzo pizza immediately
Sprinkle with oregano and chilli flakes, if using, and serve immediately.
Storage for Matzo Pizza
There’s nothing quite like fresh and hot matzo pizza, but if you need to store leftovers then you have a few options. After the matzo brei pizza is fully cooled, add it to an airtight container. Place in the refrigerator for up to three days or the freezer for up to three months. Keep in mind that the matzo will continue to absorb the sauce in the refrigerator, so your leftovers may be a bit softer than they were originally.
Want to Make it In the Oven?
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the matzo brei as instructed, but instead of cooking it in a skillet, press the mixture into a lightly greased baking sheet or oven-safe skillet.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until the base is set.
- Remove from the oven, spread tomato sauce over the baked matzo brei, and sprinkle with cheese and any additional toppings.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Top Tips
After you soak the matzo, shake off any excess water. While you want the matzo to be slightly soft, a lot of extra moisture in the pan will prevent the matzo from developing that delicious crispy texture.
A huge time saver trick for this recipe is using pre shredded cheese and store bought sauce. You will not notice the difference, and it will give you that quick meal that is done in one pan in a fraction of the time!
More Passover-Friendly Recipes
You can't go wrong with a classic Jewish chicken soup or homemade gefilte fish recipe for a main over passover. For a delicious dessert, I recommend my soft and chewy coconut macaroon pyramids.
Recipe
Tried and loved this recipe? Please leave a 5-star review below! Your reviews mean a lot to me, so if you've got any questions, please let me know in a comment.
Matzo Brei Pizza
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 matzo sheets regular gluten free or 2 large homemade matzah crackers
- 3 eggs
- 2 tablespoon milk or water
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons Butter you can also use Earth Balance or olive oil for frying
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheese
- Dried oregano optional
- Chilli flakes optional
Instructions
- Run matzo under a tap of running water for 30 seconds. Alternatively, fill a large bowl or casserole dish with cold water and submerge the matzo crackers in it for 20-30 seconds (if using gluten-free matzo, 20 seconds are enough).
- Break matzo into small pieces or about 1-2 inches. Transfer to a large bowl or casserole dish.
- In a small bowl, mix eggs thoroughly. Add milk, salt and pepper, and stir well to combine.
- Pour the egg mixture on top of the matzo pieces. Mix well to combine.
- Set a skillet to medium-high heat. Melt butter, Earth Balance, or olive oil.
- Add matzos and egg mixture to a small pan, and mix well. Let cook for 5 minutes without stirring, until the eggs are set. You should have a large matzo brei pancake in your skillet. Loosen the edges of the matza brei with a spatula, and flip in one piece (if it doesn't flip easily, add a bit of oil and wait a bit longer before trying again).
- Ladle the sauce on the pizza. Top with shredded cheese.
- Cover the matza pizza with a lid, and let cook on the other side for another 5 minutes, until cheese is melted and gooey.
- Optional: this is the time to add any yummy toppings you like! Veggie pepperoni slices, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, sliced onions and even broccoli are some of our favorites.
- Sprinkle with oregano and chilli flakes, if using, and serve immediately.
Sue says
Pizza for breakfast - my family will NEVER argue with that!
Sharon says
Such a unique way to use Matzo! The fam really loved the pizza - anything cheesy is always a good idea.
Jennifer says
What a tasty and clever recipe! I've never used matzo this way before but I'm in love! So easy and tasty!
kseniaprints says
It was a nice break from the usual 🙂
Gen says
This was so fun to make and really delicious! I love matzo but always have leftovers. I’m definitely going to be making this again the next time I have part of a box left.
kseniaprints says
This is my favorite thing to make with all the broken bits at the end!
Healing Tomato says
You have me at pizza for breakfast, lol! This pizza turned out amazing and they tasted so good. I had no idea that I could make pizza on matzo sheets.