Matzo Brei à la Florentine is essentially a Matzo Brei recipe with spinach. Since it’s unleavened bread, recipes using Matzo crackers are very popular for Passover. This is a delicious, hearty, vegetarian dish to add to your feast for Passover, or to have absolutely anytime!
I really love Matzo Brei, and wanted to make one for Passover, but I wanted to make it a very unique Matzo Brei recipe — hence the “à la Florentine.” And let me tell you, this version is over-the-top delicious.
Whether you celebrate Passover or not, I think you will love this!
What is Matzo?
- Made from flour and water, Matzo (or Matzah, or Ma tza) is cracker-like, unleavened bread.
- Matzo is part of Jewish cuisine and is important for Passover, when only unleavened bread is allowed.
What is Matzo Brei?
- Matzo Brei is a dish with Ashkenazi Jewish origins that’s traditionally made with fried matzo and eggs. (Think scrambled eggs meet crispy French toast.)
- It’s commonly eaten during Passover, as a breakfast food, when only unleavened bread is permitted.
- Typically, broken pieces of matzo are dipped into lightly beaten eggs, and then fried.
- There are numerous ways to prepare the dish, as well as flexibility in ingredients. Though they may turn out quite similar, every family seems to have their own special method of making Matzo Brei.
And the “à la Florentine,” well that’s pretty much an Italian way of saying it’s Matzo Brei recipe with spinach.
Inspiration for this Matzo Brei Recipe
My mom used to make a version of this with just the matzo and eggs. I always found it delicious and comforting. And of course, she used double the onions. 🙂
With Passover just days away, though super tasty, as I said, I felt I couldn’t very well make you a typical Matzo Brei — it had to be extra special.
Enter fresh spinach and sweet caramelized onions! This Matzo Brei recipe is unique and beautiful!
And of course, the awesome crispy stacked matzo presentation.
Enjoy this Matzo Brei recipe with Spinach for Passover — or, anytime!
I bet it will become one of your favorite recipes using matzo crackers.
(Oh, and gluten-free Matzo is now available.)
Matzo Brei à la Florentine is essentially a Matzo Brei recipe with spinach. Since it's unleavened bread, recipes using Matzo crackers are very popular for Passover.
- olive oil for the pan
- 1 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 4 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 4 whole matzo crackers
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
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Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil and place it over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring from time to time, until the onions are nicely browned, about 10 minutes.
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Add the spinach and use kitchen tongs to mix it with the onions. Cook until it's completely wilted, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Here's How to Season to Taste.) Add this to a bowl and set aside. Do not wash the pan.
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Break each matzo cracker into 4 pieces -- as equally sized as possible. (They probably won't break exactly how you want them to -- no biggie.) Set aside.
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In a small mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the paprika and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper.
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Coat the bottom of the same sauté pan you used for the spinach, with a bit more oil and about half of the butter, and place it over high heat.
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Once the pan is very hot, 2 at a time, dredge the matzo pieces through the egg mixture, coating them well. Immediately place them in the pan. Repeat this until you've done as many as will fit with at least a an inch or so between them. (This will likely be done in 2 batches -- add the remaining butter in the second batch.) Brown them well, about 30 seconds per side. Remove them from the pan and place them on a plate as you go.
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Return the spinach to the pan with any of the remaining egg mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring often, just until the egg is cooked through, about 2 minutes. (This should look like spinach scrambled eggs -- more or less.)
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Assemble by stacking 4 of the matzo pieces with the spinach-egg mixture between each one and on top, being sure to divide the ingredients as evenly as possible.
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Serve!
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Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Epic!
valentina says
I just love this comment, Dorothy! Thank you. xo
Dana @ Foodie Goes Healthy says
I’m intrigued. I’ll have to try it. It’s always good to mix up the Passover line up. Looks delish.
valentina says
Hope it goes over well, Dana. 🙂
Coco in the Kitchen says
Oh, those crackers never had it so good!
valentina says
I love that, Colette. They might just have it better than their consumers. 😉
Sippitysup says
By making this a la Florentine you’ve taken it into Sephardic territory. Well done. GREG
valentina says
Yay! Love it. 🙂
David says
Ow, wow! This looks so much better than any matzoh brei I ever had growing up! In addition to my Happy Easter, Happy Passover, too!
valentina says
Thanks, David. When I’m not being “fancy,” I love good old Matzo Brei fairly plain with maple syrup! YUM! Happy holidays to you!
David says
Yeah, as I reread this I was thinking… I need to try this because the only matzo brei I every had was a soggy, flavorless mess.
I want to come to your house for Pesach!
valentina says
That would be lovely! 😀 Hope you try it. xo
Nancy Buchanan says
Definitely a dish I have got to try – I’ve never had matzo brei before and clearly I am missing out big time!
valentina says
You must try it — if not mine, another, or in a deli. I love it! My mom used to make it on the weekends. 🙂 Thank you for checking it out.
Connie says
My husband said “WOW! This is the best matzo brei I’ve ever had!” I added a little cheese to the recipe, but a definite keeper. Both delicious and beautiful.
valentina says
Thank you so much for writing in, Connie. You’ve made my day! 🙂 I love this recipe and adding a bit of cheese sounds delicious. Happy Passover. 🙂 ~Valentina