Think of Instant Pot Matzo Brei as Jewish French Toast or Fried Matzo. During Passover, we only eat unleavened bread. Matzo Brie is eaten for breakfast.
Instant Pot Matzo Brei for Passover
Passover is the commemoration of the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt.
Matzo symbolizes the Israelites quick haste to leave Egypt and not waiting for the bread to rise. It symbolizes freedom and redemption. During Passover, Matzo is used in place of bread. There was no leavening agents, so the Matzo doesn’t rise and remains flat. I love Matzo so much and eat Matzo any time of the year. The more religious Jews will not eat Matzo Brie during Passover, since it comes in contact with water.
Traditionally matzo brei is cooked in a skillet on the stove. It just happens to be fantastic prepared in an Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker too. My Instant Pot Matzo Brei recipe is so easy and it is totally hands off. Just mix up the ingredients, dump it in and push a button!
Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Matzo Brei for Passover
Matzo Brie is typically served at breakfast with Maple Syrup. Some people love to use Applesauce and Sour Cream. My favorite part about matzo brei is the crust and I was able to achieve a nice crust in the Instant Pot!!!
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Ingredients for Matzo Brei
- Matzo (Kosher for Passover) – as matzo brei is enjoyed all year round, Kosher for Passsover matzo is not needed throughout the year.
- Eggs
- Milk
- Butter
- Salt (if desired)
Occasionally, you will see a savory version with Onions, Salt and Pepper, but mostly, Matzo Brie is served for breakfast with Syrup. I prefer the sweet and simple version. My Instant Pot Matzo Brie only has a few ingredients and is super simple to make.
Matzo Soaking in Water
Kosher for Passover Matzo
- Those who keep Kosher will use Kosher for Passover matzo.
- For those who do not keep Kosher, Kosher for Passover matzo is not needed for this recipe.
Pro Tip: Instant Pot Matzo Brei can be enjoyed all year round.
Grab a large bowl and break up the Matzo. To soften the Matzo is soaked in Fresh Water, until it is soft.
Whisk together Eggs and Water
The eggs are whisked until they are nice and frothy. I suggest my very favorite Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk as it works really well to get a nice and even mix.
Matzo Brie is really awesome when cooked in Cast Iron Skillet on the Stove Top. The edges get nicely crisp, while the center is moist.
Pro Tip: A trick for a fluffier matzo brei is to add a little bit of milk or cream. A touch of ice cold water works well too.
Squeeze out the Water from the Matzo
The water is then squeezed out of the Matzo.
The Secret to Crispy Matzo Brei
- Extra eggs makes Instant Pot Matzo Brei crispy in the Instant Pot as the bottom of the matzo brei will crisp up using the rice button.
As a result, the center of the matzo brei will be slightly soft and the edges will be crisp.
Start with a very Hot Pot
Making Matzo Brei In Advance
- The matzo brei mixture can be made the night before cooking.
- Instead of soaking the matzo in water, squeezing and then adding eggs, whisk the eggs with the salt first and then add in broken matzo.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for cooking the next day. The matzo will soften from the egg!
Pro Tip: Always makes sure to heat up the Instant Pot cooking pot. Then add the fat. This will help to make the pot non-stick.
In this case, I used a touch of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Butter to help with the crisp crust! Swirl the Butter around the pot and a couple of inches up the sides.
Dump the Matzo Brie right into the Cooking Pot
Right into the pot, goes the Matzo Brei Mixture.
Is Water Needed in the Instant Pot?
- No water is needed to make a perfect matzo brei.
- As the rice button is being used, the cooking method is a bit different than when cooking with high pressure. The pot will come to pressure as there is enough liquid from the eggs. The small amount of egg liquid is what will give the matzo brei a nice crust on the bottom.
- And, it will brown on the bottom. This method is for a pancake type of Matzo Brei.
My personal preference is to break up the Matzo Brei as it cooks in cast iron, but for a change, it is nice to dump the mixture into the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker and walk away.
Can Instant Pot Matzo Brei Be Frozen?
- Yes, after cooking, wait until it cools.
- Wrap the Matzo Brei in wax paper and then put in into a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System or other air tight container or baggie.
Instant Pot Matzo Brei for Passover will Brown!
What a beautiful brown crust. This literally flipped right out of the Instant Pot.
If you like Jewish food, check out my Air Fryer Chanukkah Latkes recipes. Those are so delicious.
Instant Pot Passover Matzo Brie
My favorite way to eat Instant Pot Matzo Brei is with Pure Maple Syrup. My husband likes to use Butter and Sugar. How do you eat your Instant Pot Matzo Brei?
More Passover Recipes to Make:
- Passover Matzo Icebox Cake + Video!
- Air Fryer Passover Matzo Taco Chips
- Pressure Cooker Friday Night Shabbos Brisket
- Pressure Cooker Passover Vegetable Matzo Lasagna
It is also delicious with Applesauce (there is a fabulous recipe in my new Cookbook) and Sour Cream! Oh yum.
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- Kosher for Passover Matzo
- Pure Maple Syrup
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 5 whole Matzo Kosher for Passover
- 6 large Eggs
- 3 Tablespoons Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Pure Maple Syrup
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Instructions
- Place Matzo in a large Bowl and cover with fresh water. Let soak for about 3-5 minutes, until the Matzo is mostly soft.
- Squeeze water from Matzo and discard Water. Place Matzo back into Bowl.
- Beat the Eggs with the Milk and mix into Matzo.
- Select Sauté on the Instant Pot and allow to fully heat. Add Oil and Butter and swirl it around to coat the bottom and about 2 inches up the sides.
- Pour Matzo Brie into Instant Pot or GoWise Pressure Cooker.
- Lock on Lid and close Pressure Valve. Select the Rice Button. When Beep sounds, wait 5 minutes and then release any remaining pressure.
- Run a Spatula along the edges and remove Matzo Brie from cooking pot. Cut or break up Matzo Brie and serve with Maple Syrup or Applesauce and Sour Cream.
Notes
Crispy Matzo Brei
- Extra eggs makes Instant Pot Matzo Brei crispy in the Instant Pot as the bottom of the matzo brei will crisp up using the rice button.
- As a result, the center of the matzo brei will be slightly soft and the edges will be crisp.
Alternative Matzo Brei Recipe
Another way to make matzo brei is to skip the water and instead soak the matzo in the scrambled egg mixture. The matzo will need to soak about 30 minutes, so if you are not in a hurry, try this method. It is also how you would make the matzo brei mixture the night before cooking.How to Make Matzo Brei In Advance
- In a medium to large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and salt.
- Break matzo into pieces and place matzo into bowl of eggs so that matzo is covered.
- Cover bowl and place into refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition
PIN this Instant Pot Matzo Brei!
Instant Pot Matzo Brei
I tried this recipe and it never came to pressure I ended up opening it and making it in sauté like I would of in a pan 🙁
Did you let it go the whole cycle? It will cook. Jill
Your comment about religious Jews don’t have Matzo Brie during Passover because the Matzo touches water is just wrong. There is no religious ban on using water with Matzo to make Matzo Brie.Most Ashkenazi Jews(Eastern European origins-most American Jews) grew up not Making Matzo Brie, but, in fact, Just plain old Fried Matzo-hot water used to soften the Matzo,mixed together like you were making scrambled eggs, and then fried in a frying pan, often in butter and then, if not just salt and pepper, a little strawberry preserves or jelly.
Having spent time in Israel (I went to high school there) and growing up in a Jewish community and spending Shabbos with Orthodox Jews and Hasidism, there was talk on this subject. Remember, kashrut among Israeli, Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews vary. Jill
It is true for Chabad. They feel there might be accidental leavening.
Delicious, but it didn’t come to pressure (like it should have?).
I followed your recipe, but when I closed the lid and hit the rice button, I couldn’t hear the sounds it usually makes.
After about a half hour, I hit cancel and opened the lid.
It was cooked just like it would have been in a fry pan.
It was good anyway.
Happy Pesach Jill.