How to Make Matzo Meal Homemade matzo meal is essential for a Passover meal—and very easy to make. Close Credit: Stephen Kent Johnson Let's go straight to the basics. What exactly is matzo meal? Matzo meal is made by grinding matzo, a traditional Jewish unleavened bread that's also known as matzah or matzoh. Matzo bread is made by mixing flour and water, rolling it out thin, then baking it in an extremely hot oven. It can be soft and pliable, or cracker crisp. It is the crisp version that's used to make matzo meal. Prepared matzo meal comes in several types, from coarse to fine—the most finely ground variety is known as matzo cake meal. Ahead, learn how to make a matzo meal for your Passover celebration. 23 of Our Favorite Passover Recipes to Serve at Your Seder Uses for Matzo Meal There's much more to do with this versatile ingredient than just making matzo ball soup, though that is its most common use. Matzo meal, which is kosher for Passover if handled by kosher standards, often replaces flour in chametz-free recipes. We've used it to lighten the texture of baked goods (like the Passover Chocolate-Walnut Cake with Orange shown here), fill out vegetable latkes or fritters, and as breading for matzo-crusted chicken cutlets or fish. In fact, matzo meal can even be used as a breadcrumb substitute. Like all breadcrumbs, matzo meal acts as a binder, and thus can also be added to casseroles, potato pancakes, and more. You can substitute matzo meal in almost any recipe that calls for breadcrumbs. You can also use it for a sweet pie crust. 23 of Our Favorite Passover Recipes to Serve at Your Seder How to Make Matzo Meal If matzo meal is not available in your local grocery store or you don't want to purchase a separate box, it's easy to make it. Basically, you are crushing packaged matzo to your desired consistency. Here's how to get in on the matzo-meal magic: You'll need a food processor to grind the matzo. Start by using your hands to break the matzo sheets into 1- to 2-inch pieces, then add them to the food processor and gently pulse until your desired consistency is reached. Larger crumbles might work well sprinkled over a gratin, but you'll want it fine and uniformly ground if you'll be baking with matzo meal. Frequently Asked Questions How to store matzo meal? Treat matzo meal as you would with any other meal or flour. Store it in a cool, dark, unopened place for up to a year. If opened, use it within six months for best results. You can also freeze it, tightly wrapped, for up to a year or two as well. Learn More: The Right Way to Store Every Type of Flour Is matzo meal gluten-free? Matzo is usually made out of wheat, thus, it's not exactly free of gluten. However, some brands offer matzo made out of tapioca or potato that you can use for a homemade matzo meal, as we showed you above. How do I know if my homemade matzo meal has gone bad? Look for usual spoiling signs, such as change of smell, texture, or color. If there are pests or bugs present, you should throw out your matzo meal right away. To avoid any of this, try making matzo meal in smaller quantities, especially if you're cooking for two or one. What is the difference between matzo meal and matzo mix? As mentioned, matzo meal is matzo that's ground into a fine powder. This is not the same as a matzo ball mix, which is a blend of matzo meal, salt, leavening agents, and spices conveniently packaged to make matzo balls. If you have made your own matzo meal, you are just a bit of baking soda and salt away from creating your own matzo ball mix. Explore more: Food & Cooking