Recently, I wrote a post about gluten-free oat matzo for Passover. Fortunately, there’s also a different kind of gluten-free matzo on the block. These gluten-free “matzo-style squares” are matzo alternatives that taste better than regular wheat matzo or gluten-free oat matzo. With a crisp, cracker consistency, these gluten-free matzos are good enough to be eaten year-round (really!).
Made primarily from potato starch and tapioca starch, and lightly salted, the matzos have a delicate taste, unlike regular dry matzo that leaves you parched and scrambling for water. Yehuda Gluten-Free Matzo-Style Squares have been on the market for the past two years. Not to be left out, Manischewitz came out with its own “Gluten-Free Matzo-Style Squares” this year. (How odd that they have the same name.)
Now, these matzos don’t technically meet the seder requirements of matzo — that’s why you’ll notice a disclaimer on the box that says “not a replacement for seder matzo” or “not for sacramental purposes.” At the seder the Hamotzi blessing is supposed to be said over matzo made from one of five grains: wheat, rye, barley, spelt and oats. That’s why some people turn to gluten-free oat matzo, though the oat matzo tastes like cardboard and is much more expensive, because of the supervision involved in ensuring that it’s both gluten-free and kosher for Passover.
The Manischewitz and Yehuda gluten-free matzo-style squares are very similar — with a crisp, flatbread consistency. Manischewitz is cheaper, which is always a plus, though I like Yehuda’s flavor slightly better. Both are certified gluten-free, and both do not contain oats (doctors now say that most celiacs can tolerate pure, uncontaminated gluten-free oats, but some celiacs still have reactions from oats). Yehuda and Manischewitz also make smaller gluten-free matzo crackers, too.
Last year, Yehuda added a toasted onion flavor, and this year adds a fiber-enriched version. The fiber-enriched version has 3 grams of dietary fiber, compared to 1.2 grams in the regular matzo squares. The additional fiber comes in the form of “apple fiber” and “plant fiber.” The fiber-enriched version is dry, though. If you want fiber, you’d probably be better off eating a fresh apple, which has 4 grams of fiber, instead of eating apple fiber in your matzo.
Depending on where you live, these matzos can be hard to find. I’ve found them at a local Jewel that has a good kosher selection. Some Whole Foods stores (at least in Chicago) carry the Yehuda Gluten-Free Matzo-Style Squares, too. You can also order them online, or ask if your local grocery store can order them for you.
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I’ve found the Yehuda ones at a Whole Foods in indianapolis, and I love them for snacking, but they are pretty expensive. Where have you found the Manischewitz?
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I bought the Manischewitz gluten-free matzo last Passover. I think I bought it at the “kosher” Jewel (large kosher section) in Evanston, IL. Start looking for it in mid- to late-February.
-Eve
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Instead of soaking matzoh in water as you normally would w/ matzoh brei, put broken up matzoh in the frying pan first (spray w/ cooking spray or use melted butter on pan first), Then pour beaten egg mixture over it and let it set a bit before stirring. Good luck.
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Ah, you are truly a maven. That’s a great tip for gluten-free matzo brei.
Thanks,
Eve
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I found the Yehuda ones her in Western Mass last year at Stop and Shop and they are there again now. I agree, they taste better tan regular matzo and they make grat matzo brei.
Judith
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Judith,
I did not have great luck making matzo brei with the GF matzahs last year. They kind of turned into mush. Do you have a secret?
Eve
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yes, I did pretty much what the gluten free maven did.
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Thanks, Lisa! 🙂
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Thankyou Eve. Always so interesting reading the GF Nosh!
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