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Matzo Pizza
Melissa Clark
87 ratings with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars
87
10 minutes
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Heat the oven to 375 degrees and line a rimmed 11-by-17 or 12-by-18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, covering the pan and extending over the sides.
Lay 2 matzo squares in the pan, positioning the concave side up to best retain the caramel. Then, like a puzzle, fit the remaining matzo onto the baking sheet, carefully breaking pieces to fill the entire baking pan in one layer. (Don’t worry if they are not perfect; the brittle will be cut up later.)
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil, about 6 minutes. Boil just until very bubbly, another 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from heat and pour over the matzo, covering completely. Working quickly, spread the caramel using a heatproof spatula, then spoon it on top if it spills between the cracks in the matzo.
Place the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, checking to make sure the edges and top are not burning.
Once the matzo is almost done baking, heat the peanut butter in a microwave until slightly warmed and easily pourable, about 20 to 30 seconds on high.
Remove the matzo from the oven and drizzle the warmed peanut butter on top, then sprinkle with the peanuts, then the salt. Cool, break into pieces then transfer to a lidded container. Brittle is best — and at its snappiest — when chilled. Refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes or freeze for 15 until peanut butter firms up. Brittle will keep up to 1 month frozen; let it thaw for about 10 minutes before serving.
Would both name-brand and natural peanut butter work?
I decided to make this with some stale matzos from a friend who celebrates Passover. I omitted the peanut butter (the only nut butter I had was almond which had seized over the course of a couple months). I instead took some creative freedom and topped it with chopped roasted peanuts, 100% unsweetened chopped chocolate, and pistachios. I also added the 1/2 tsp salt to the caramel itself instead of sprinkling it on top, and I felt that this gave a more uniform savory flavor throughout brittle.
I had high expectations when I read this recipe in the newspaper. However, I found that the result was very disappointing. Were I to try it again, I would cut down on the amount of brown sugar and peanut butter while increasing the amount of chopped nuts. But it probably makes more sense to try a different matzoh crunch recipe.
Heidipie - brand name peanut butters often have additives like sugar and oil so you'd want to make sure that it was an all-natural (i.e., peanut or peanut and salt only) brand. I'm going to try making this with Moroccan amlou (almond butter/honey/argan oil/salt).
If you like a little heat feel free to add some. Many recipes esp Asian ones combine peanuts with peppers. The sugary sweetness only adds to the complexity. Anything from a bit of cayenne or paprika to more than a bit of ghost peppers if you're into that whole hot sauce freak thing. I know I certainly am.
I would substitute peanuts are they are not kosher for Passover.
Are you suggesting not to use brand-name PBs because they are less healthy, or because they won't work as well in the recipe?
Recommend using natural peanut butter (I like Nuts to You Nut Butter). Also recommend just using a high quality Carmel spread or dulce de léché (such as Bon Maman) rather than making caramel from scratch. Lower effort and yet, turns out extraordinary.
very easy to burn - would lower heat
Hungry - no need to try to out-Jewish those of us who do eat kitniyot on the holiday.
I make this gluten and dairy free by using Yehuda Gluten Free Matzo-style squares and vegan butter. TJ's Peanut Butter Spread melts and spreads well. I reduce the amount of butter and peanut butter by one third. I sprinkle with dairy free chocolate chips after spreading the PB, then put it back into the oven for a couple minutes to melt and then smear the chocolate with a spatula for a marbleized effect. No need for the salt, as the vegan butter and PB are salty enough.
I added 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and reduced the amount of peanut butter to 1/2 cup (I'm glad I did!) because that's all I had. I don't think it would have been as tasty without the chocolate, but maybe I'm biased because I love chocolate so much. I used Trader Joe's natural peanut butter and found it didn't get runny enough. Also, it didn't harden well. If I were to make this again, I would add a bit of coconut oil to the peanut butter so that it forms a harder surface when chilled.
Note: Ashkenazi Jews do not eat peanuts on Passover. I'm pretty sure this recipe could be made with Almond butter and roasted slivered almonds if you wanted it to be kosher for passover.
Heidipie - brand name peanut butters often have additives like sugar and oil so you'd want to make sure that it was an all-natural (i.e., peanut or peanut and salt only) brand. I'm going to try making this with Moroccan amlou (almond butter/honey/argan oil/salt).
Are you suggesting not to use brand-name PBs because they are less healthy, or because they won't work as well in the recipe?
I decided to make this with some stale matzos from a friend who celebrates Passover. I omitted the peanut butter (the only nut butter I had was almond which had seized over the course of a couple months). I instead took some creative freedom and topped it with chopped roasted peanuts, 100% unsweetened chopped chocolate, and pistachios. I also added the 1/2 tsp salt to the caramel itself instead of sprinkling it on top, and I felt that this gave a more uniform savory flavor throughout brittle.
I had high expectations when I read this recipe in the newspaper. However, I found that the result was very disappointing. Were I to try it again, I would cut down on the amount of brown sugar and peanut butter while increasing the amount of chopped nuts. But it probably makes more sense to try a different matzoh crunch recipe.
There is absolutely no reason to use a thermometer for this recipe. Why make something “advanced” when it doesn’t have to be? I’ve been making this recipe for years and years and simply following the directions for boiling and stirring make it perfect. C’mon people, this isn’t a place to impress others. Just enjoy the cooking and baking!
Meh. The chocolate caramel matzo is far better. Because peanut butter is, well, peanut butter, the top stays soft. They are best kept cold. Will not make again.
Non-Observant Observer, I searched around various recipes and found one that said 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Haven’t tried that yet but I will as I’ve been struggling with the right consistency for the caramel. Also, any tips for how to keep the underside of the matzoh from getting covered in the caramel?
Made this today. Added chocolate chips to half the pan for a Snickers effect. Tasty! The PB does take a while to firm up, even in the freezer.
An “advanced” version of this recipe would give a temperature for the caramel. I also would love to know the rationale for baking it in the oven- it seems like a wholly unnecessary step. Anyone ever try it without that step who can report back?
I would substitute peanuts are they are not kosher for Passover.
They are if one eats kitniyot (legumes).
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