Matzo brei is a kind of flat omelet that’s a classic breakfast during Passover week and beyond. This recipe will show you how to make a vegan matzo brei, without the customary eggs. It’s easiest to make this one serving at a time in a small skillet; for more servings, repeat the recipe as needed.
Basically, matzo brei consists of broken matzo that’s softened with hot water, then mixed with scrambled egg and fried. Not exactly your powerhouse breakfast — after all, matzo isn’t exactly a super food — it’s one of those Eastern European specialties that’s suffused with nostalgia. Here we replace the egg, easily and cleverly!
A trio of egg substitutes: I give you three choices for the egg substitute that will hold the matzo brei together. Two of the options — oats (which are hametz) and garbanzo (chickpea) flour (legumes are kitniyot) are ingredients that aren’t allowable foods during the Passover week for those who adhere strictly.
Sephardic tradition still allows legumes and some other kitniyot during Passover week. Some Ashkenazi traditions have started to allow kitniyot, too. If you’re fine with that, go ahead and try this with garbanzo flour.
Quinoa flakes, as a derivative of the relatively recently allowable food, quinoa, is the most Passover-friendly option. That’s my favorite “glue” for my Vegan Matzo Balls.
If you adhere to Passover food rules, you can always wait until after the holiday week to make matzo brei. Like most everyone else who celebrates, you’ll likely have plenty of leftover matzo to use up.
Make sure to explore the variations: Often, matzo brei is enjoyed just as is; straight from the pan, lightly salted. Incorporating a little bit of fruit into the batter (banana, apple, or pear) into the batter is a lovely touch; you can also make it savory with baby spinach or other baby greens and/or fresh herbs.
Festive Vegan Passover Recipes, from Matzo Balls to Macaroons
Vegan Matzo Brei with Sweet and Savory Variations
Matzo brei is a kind of flat omelet that’s a classic breakfast during Passover week and beyond. This recipe will show you how to make it vegan, without eggs.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 matzos, crumbled
- 1/4 cup quinoa flakes or oatmeal, or 2 tablespoons garbanzo flour
- 1 cup boiling water
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- Maple syrup or fruit preserves for serving, optional
- Sweet or savory variations (see Notes)
Instructions
- Start heating a 7- or 8-inch nonstick skillet right away, as it’s best for it to be very hot when the pouring in the matzo mixture.
- Combine the crumbled matzos and quinoa flakes or oatmeal or garbanzo flour and a pinch of salt in a heatproof bowl. Pour 1 cup boiling water over them and stir together. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Melt the vegan butter in the skillet. Once it’s sizzling, pour in the matzo mixture and pat in evenly. Cover and cook over medium-high until the bottom is golden brown and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Slide the matzo brei out onto a plate about the same size as the skillet. Holding the bottom of the plate with one hand, invert the skillet over the plate with the other and then flip right side up quickly. Cook the other side of the matzo brei until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes longer.
- Slide onto a a serving plate. Serve at once with the optional maple syrup or preserves (unless you’ve made the savory variation), or sprinkle additional salt over the top.
Notes
For a sweet variation: Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup sliced banana, 1 tablespoon maple syrup and a generous pinch of cinnamon after allowing the matzo mixture to stand in step 2. Stir in and proceed with the recipe.
For a savory variation: Add 1/2 cup finely chopped baby spinach and/or 2 to 4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parley, plus a thinly sliced scallion or two, after allowing the matzo mixture to stand in step 2. Stir in and proceed with the recipe.
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See more Jewish Vegan Recipes.
Do you squeeze out the water after the soaking period? My mother always soaked the matzah until soft then squeezed out the water before using…or does the chickpea flour absorb what the matzoh doesn’t? Thanks!
Hi Patrice — I do this just as is, without squeezing out. As I mention in my notes, if you adhere strictly to no kitnyot during Passover week, you’ll want to use quinoa flakes. After Passover (or if you’re not that strict), oatmeal or garbanzo flour work well, too. I hope you enjoy this and feel free to come back with feedback!
Thanks so much…I’m definitely not strict so I will be trying this this week…I’ve made it using silken tofu in place of eggs but this seems so much easier…thank you! I will let you know how it is after I try it!
Thanks…I’ve made it using silken tofu but this seems much easier…I will be trying it soon and will let you know how it comes out.
Great and easy recipe! I made it with oatmeal. I would just use less water, about half cup
I also added some chopped apples to the dough.
Great idea!
Thank you, Malvina! I’ll retest it with the oatmeal. I usually use the quinoa flakes. I’m curious if you used 1 1/2 matzos, as 1 cup water would definitely be too much for that amount.
Wanted to let you know that I made the Sweet version of the Matzoh Brei, twice, and it was delicious. So easy. I’ve been making the tofu version for years and while that is still delicious, this is soooo easy. I did cut back on the liquid by 1/4 cup the second time and I did like that better but overall you get an A+ from me. Thanks so much for sharing…
Thank you so much, Patrice! Glad you enjoyed it.
Have you tried adding nutritional yeast?
Jan, I have not, but what a great idea! I’ll test that out and add to the recipe if it’s a good fit. Thanks for this …