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!
Deborah11415@outlook.com says
I was wondering every on i make Passover rolls with matzah meal i have to eat low carb can I make my Passover rolls with almond flour and if so how can it be done
Any suggestions.
Have a Wonderful Passover.
Thanks in advance
Deborah
Elana says
Deborah, thanks for your comment. Here’s a biscuit recipe that might work for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-biscuits/
Happy Passover!
Elana
Henrietta says
Thanks for this especially with four days till Passover! Made this today and LOVED it. Thanks !! I’ll be serving it at Saturday Seder that I’m hosting .. Finally great home made Matzo that I can eat.
Elana says
Henrietta, thanks for letting me know you LOVED this Matzo :-)
Dawn says
Elena,
My mom can’t eat coconut, is there something else I can use instead of coconut flour? I love the recipes I have tried so far and Passover is coming.
Dawn
Elana says
Dawn, thanks for your comment! I haven’t tried that so not sure. I’m so happy to hear that you love the recipes on my site :-)
Ilana says
Thank you so much for this recipe. It was great to have this on Passover. My husband, who hates matzah, said that this was not like matzah because it tastes great. My daughter in law suggested that I make this recipe as every day crackers. I’ve started doing that and my family has enjoyed these crackers so much. I score the rolled out dough into squares with a knife before baking. Yesterday I sprinkled “everything but the bagel” seasoning on a small portion of the crackers before baking. I’m going to have to try these with a little shmear of cream cheese and some lox on top. Thank you again.
Elana says
Ilana, you’re very welcome! I’m so glad that you and your family are enjoying this recipe :-)
Jewish mom says
Although this recipe is great for those that are on the diet. One does not fulfill the commandment of eating Matzah on Passover night at the seder, unless the matzah is made from one the 5 GRAiNS . The five grains are wheat, barley, oat, rye and spelt. For more information check out chabad.org.
Elana says
Jewish Mom, thanks so much for your input! Given that I am allergic to all grains, this is a nice supplement for me and our Rabbi said it was ok given my health condition :-)
Michele says
Hi Elena!
I’ve been sticking to a ketogenic diet, which is how I came across this recipe. I’d planned to make it for Passover, but I never got around to it. I tried it tonight, and WOW. It’s delicious! I sprinkled one with hemp hearts and the other with chia seeds. I’m going to eat all of it tonight!
I’m trying to figure out how your fork holes look so deep. And the nice square shape of your matzo… well, I’ll keep working on that. :-) Thank you so much for posting this.
Elana says
Michele, I use a fork and press firmly to make the holes. I use a pizza cutter to cut the borders so neatly. I’m so glad to hear this was WOW! We love it too :-)
Shellie says
Elana,
I was so pleased to find your webpage and recipes. I am celiac also and have suffered through the card board taste of oat matzah for many years…awful! This year my doctor recommended I start the SCD food plan, and I found your matzah recipe. It was delicious. I also made the matzah ball recipe and they were also tasty, and my family thought so too. I was thrilled to be able to enjoy the Passover seder this year and partake in the Mitzvoth of the Hillel cracker. I’m looking forward to trying many more recipes. Pesach Semach!
Thank you so much,
Shellie
Elana says
Shellie, it’s so nice to meet you here and I’m glad we are on this healing path together. Thanks for letting me know the matzah was delicious! Chag Sameach!
Shellie says
Hi Elana,
I now have all three of your cookbooks and found your recipes for the skillet apple pie, which calls for arrowroot powder as a thickener. I’m on the SCD and arrowroot is not allowed. Is there a substitute you suggest? Will it come out ok if I just omit the arrowroot?
Thanks,
Shellie
Elana says
Shellie, I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying my books! You can make that recipe without the arrowroot, it will just be a little watery since it won’t have the thickener :-)
Mara says
I notice all you use is celtic salt as I haven’t found any do you think this recipe will be ok with sea salt?
Elana says
Mara, in order to find celtic sea salt, simply click the green text in the ingredients portion of the recipe that says, “celtic sea salt.” :-)
Keri says
Actually, we love Matzo but, our low carb diet does not. Thank you so much for this recipe!!
Elana says
Keri, you’re welcome :-)
Lauren Miller says
Can this be made into matzoh meal to make matzoh balls?
Elana says
Lauren, here’s a link to my Matzo Ball Soup recipe for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/matzoh-ball-soup/
Enjoy!
Elana
Lauren Miller says
Thank you!!