For years my friends, family, and readers have been asking me to create a grain-free matzo recipe. This year, instead of throwing my paleo matzo together the day of our Seder, I took time during the last few weeks to work on creating a gluten-free matzo recipe.
As you can imagine, my house has become a veritable paleo matzo factory with batch after batch of matzo spread out all over my kitchen counters.
Matzo is an interesting food. Most Jews, including myself will tell you that we don’t really like the taste of matzo. It’s dry and starchy, and for the most part completely lacking in flavor. On the other hand, matzo is an incredible vehicle for a fabulous part of the Seder, the Hillel Sandwich, which is matzo with charoset and maror (horseradish).
Grain-Free Matzo
Ingredients
- 1 cup blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- In a food processor combine almond flour, coconut flour, and salt
- Pulse in egg, olive oil, and water
- Divide dough into 2 pieces
- Roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper to 1/16-inch thickness
- Remove top piece of parchment paper
- Transfer matzo to a baking sheet
- Prick holes in matzo using a fork
- Bake at 350°F for 10-13 minutes, watching very closely
- Cool for 2 hours
- Serve
Thankfully, my matzo is fairly tasty. Unfortunately, since it has good taste, texture and flavor, my paleo matzo does not taste exactly like the real thing –i.e., grain-based matzo. Because of this I recommend that you do what our family does each Passover –buy gluten-free matzo for those on a gluten-free diet, and make this grain-free matzo for folks that are strictly grain-free (like myself) or following a Paleo diet.
What is matzo? Referred to as matzoh, matza, or matzah, and known as “the bread of affliction,” matzo is unleavened bread typically made of wheat flour and water. It is traditionally eaten by Jews during the Passover holiday when eating chametz (wheat products that are leavened) is not permitted.
I’m often asked, is matzo gluten-free? Well, the answer is no. Real matzo is made of wheat, something I have not eaten since 1998, when I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Real matzo would make me very sick if I consumed it. I’m also frequently asked what I use in place of matzo meal during Pesach. That is easy to answer –almond flour is my matzo meal and because of this all of my recipes are kosher for Passover.
If you’re looking for a Paleo Passover menu, you’re in luck. If you need healthy Paleo Passover recipe ideas for topping this homemade matzo, try the ones below!
Lynn says
Hi Elana , I love your recipes . I have a general question there is a lot of almond flour used in the recipes I am GF and also trying to avoid oxalates . Does blanching almonds deplete oxalates ? I am pretty sure sprouting them does
Elana says
Lynn, oxalates are not something I worry much about.
Judy M says
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I bought three boxes of gluten-free matzo, which are high carb.
So now I’m not afraid to take them to the synagogue to share.
Thank you ever so much. I have some of your recipes already. that are delicious. I will check more of them out.
Elana says
Judy, you are welcome!
arelyn says
Made this one as is and it came out looking like matzo. It was a little hard to work with though so I tried a second batch with a heaping Tablespoon or arrowroot starch. It was much easier to roll out and feels a little stronger coming out of the oven.
Elana says
Thanks Arelyn!
Nicole says
Thank you for this. im in the process of conversion and am also celiac.
Elana says
Nicole, you’re welcome!
Tal Neeman says
This is great! Can you provide nutrition information?
Elana says
Tal, for more on that go here:
https://elanaspantry.com/nutrition-information/
Have a wonderful day!
Elana