Matzah pizza (sometimes spelled matzoh pizza)[1] is a type of pizza made by baking a piece of matzo that has been topped with sauce and cheese. Because Jewish law prohibits the consumption of leavened bread during Passover, some people use matzo as a substitute for traditional pizza crusts during the holiday.
Background
During Passover, Jewish law prohibits the consumption of food items that are made with yeast or leavening agents.[2] Given these restrictions, some individuals will make pizza by substituting matzo for traditional pizza crust.[3] However, some food manufacturers now supply traditional pizza crusts that are made with kosher-for-Passover ingredients,[4] and some recipes suggest substituting chopped matzo for yeast dough.[5] During Passover, some restaurants will also feature matzo pizza on their menus to substitute for traditional pizza.[6][7][8][9]
Preparation
Matzah pizza is prepared by covering a piece of matzo with sauce and melted cheese.[3] It can be eaten as is or baked first. In the latter case, the matzo is first softened in water; alternately, the sauce ingredients are used to soften the matzo.[10] Other traditional pizza toppings may be used in addition to cheese.[11][12][13] For example, chef Spike Mendelsohn suggests topping matzah pizza with figs and asparagus, peppers and feta cheese, or cherry tomatoes, olives, and rosemary,[14] while Martha Stewart recommends placing a fried egg on top of a matzah pizza.[15] Other recipes suggest using crushed tomatoes instead of tomato sauce,[16] and some recipes suggest substituting hummus for the sauce.[17] Some recipes recommend baking the matzo and toppings on a baking sheet, either in a conventional oven[18][19] or in a microwave oven,[20] while other recipes recommend baking matzah pizza in a casserole pan so that the dish resembles a layered lasagna.[21] Vegan recipes suggest utilizing vegan cheese or omitting the cheese entirely.[22][17]
Other uses
Because it has large Italian and Jewish communities, the term is also occasionally used to refer to the town of Massapequa, New York.[1][23]
