Each Thursday, Emily Vikre (a.k.a fiveandspice) will be sharing a new way to love breakfast -- because breakfast isn't just the most important meal of the day. It's also the most awesome.
Today: A dish so wrong, yet so right.
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First order of business: I am not Jewish, and I have no authority from which to speak about matzo brei. You don’t need to take anything I say seriously. Second order of business: my husband is Jewish, but that still gives me no authority because he is not what one would call a practicing Jew. In fact, last year when we hosted a Passover seder, it was only the second one he had ever been to. We held it mostly because I have a deep and abiding love for meals imbued with symbolism and historic significance, and they don’t come more symbolic than a seder. Also, I wanted to try making homemade matzo (that was a lot of work).
Anyway, we have a bad (is it bad?) habit of making jokes about making bacon clam pizzas for Passover. I know.
Suffice it to say, I was totally on board when Food52er linzarella wrote to me about making matzo brei with bacon. In her words, “I recently discovered an amazing and unknown breakfast dish, and I am on a public service mission to introduce it to the world. You may have heard of matzo brei, a more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts Jewish dish of matzo pieces, soaked in water, mixed with egg, and fried until crisp. One morning, not without some trepidation, I added bacon to my brei. The result was glorious.”
The result is indeed glorious -- a sort of bacon and scrambled eggs meets French toast amalgamation -- and deserves, as she says, to be shouted from the rooftops. I followed linzarella’s instructions almost exactly, but I added a splash of cream because if you’re already offending the almighty with your food choices, you may as well just go for it. And then I drizzled on some maple syrup to make a sweet-savory brei. You know, to make sure I offended absolutely everyone. But, oh, it was so good.
Matzo Brei with Bacon and Maple Syrup
Serves 1
1 piece of thick-cut bacon, cut into small pieces?
1 sheet of matzo?
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon cream
Salt and pepper
Maple syrup for serving
See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.
Photos by Emiky Vikre
Written by: fiveandspice
Popular on Food52
80 Comments
Art
September 14, 2017
I grew up eating this from my dad! I'm Jewish and suffice to say my family wasn't religious. It is so wrong, but OH SO RIGHT.
Cindy
April 17, 2014
This is completely inappropriate! I’m NOT of the Jewish faith and I’m offended. I live in NYC have many friends that are Jewish varying in degrees of observance and I know they would be offended as well. This is truly disrespectful ESPECIALLY during the PASSOVER holiday.
Elizabeth M.
April 16, 2014
OMG, guys. Give it a rest. If you don't want to eat it, don't make it! How hard is that? But judging the chef, creator of the recipe, or the site is ludicrous. Working on letting go, being non-judgmental, and forgiving and MOVE ON!
therefromhere
April 17, 2014
Ah yes, the judgmental non-judgmental argument. You're a bright one Lizzy.
This recipe would have been perfectly fine at any other time of the year - but having cleaned out a kitchen of all remnants of leavened bread (look it up), the timing is insensitive.
This recipe would have been perfectly fine at any other time of the year - but having cleaned out a kitchen of all remnants of leavened bread (look it up), the timing is insensitive.
Elizabeth M.
April 17, 2014
Do not call me Lizzy, and don't presume to think I don't know what leavened bread means, to the Jewish community or otherwise. But not everyone is Jewish, and even some that are may have made this recipe this very night and enjoyed it. So, let those who are of a faith celebrating a religious holiday, or who keep a kosher home NOT make this, but let the rest of the world enjoy it.
Yooj
April 17, 2014
Do not make a molehill out of this mountain, Elizabeth. It's far worse than turning a Lizzy into a Tizzy.
therefromhere
April 16, 2014
Wait, I got it wrong. I always get confused with Christian traditions... we should have these Jeebs cookies on Good Friday. Perhaps for the resurrection, leftovers?
therefromhere
April 16, 2014
I suppose this is OK.
Can we have Jesus cookies for Easter? Perhaps little sugar cookie crosses with icing stick figures, blood and all? Would that be considered offensive? After all, since it's OK to take liberty with a Jewish tradition, why can't we take some with a guy who was crucified a few millennia ago?
Can we have Jesus cookies for Easter? Perhaps little sugar cookie crosses with icing stick figures, blood and all? Would that be considered offensive? After all, since it's OK to take liberty with a Jewish tradition, why can't we take some with a guy who was crucified a few millennia ago?
Elizabeth M.
April 17, 2014
Have them and enjoy them to your heart's content. I take no offense. And probably most others wouldn't. Because in my heart, what I believe doesn't make what you believe wrong. There are different beliefs, different customs, who is right or wrong??? Let each respect them other by respecting their choice, but don't expect the entire world to follow you!
localappetite
April 16, 2014
I'm kind of shocked at the offense other Jewish commenters took about this. Regardless of whether you keep kosher or not, this is simply a dish of cultural nostalgic value, not a religious meal. To take it as an insult to one's faith is way blown out of proportion, especially given the author's disclaimers. Everyone picks and chooses how they practice religion, and what they eat.
Babs
April 16, 2014
If it is only Jewish people offended by this, than there's a legitimate reason for it, and I hope that as a human being, and a non Jew, you would respect that, and even seek to understand why Matzo and bacon together, (as delicious as it may be) is so wrong, on so many levels. First being that it is disrespectful to the meaning of Passover, and to post it is even more disrespectful. And I agree with you Localappetite in that everyone should be able to pick and chooses how they practice religion, as well as what they eat--and not be judged for it! But really, bacon and matzo on Passover?? It's almost comical! Are you jewish localappetite?
localappetite
April 16, 2014
I am Jewish, and yes, I'd imagine it is meant to be comical. Some people look at these things with humor, if they aren't concerned with dietary laws. Surely, this can't really be the first "traif" dish mash-up you've seen? Anyways, I'm also a fan of not wasting time on commenting boards bad mouthing others. With that I'll just wish you a happy bacon-free passover!
Babs
April 16, 2014
Haha, and a Happy Passover to you as well LA, bacon or no bacon! :) And fyi, most things are even better with bacon in it! Shall i dare be even more comical and ask where's the cheese in this dish? :) (Now that would be a very tasty version of this "traif" mash!)
Babs
April 15, 2014
I'm sure it's delicious, and although I am Jewish, I don't always follow the "rules" of being Jewish, but certainly, i would not make a Passover dish, let alone eat it, with the one item that is everything but Jewish! it's actually ignorant to post this recipe, let alone put the two items together! Use non jewish crackers instead!!!!! This is not in good taste Food 52!
Yooj
April 15, 2014
It wasn't ignorant in this case, it was with full awareness, since Emily acknowledged that it was "wrong" in the original posting. In spite of repeated concerns expressed by others, all she's done since is defend herself. Inexcusable.
Michael F.
April 16, 2014
I'm glad to see Babs is the self anointed judge of right and wrong. Why do you care if she makes or posts this recipe? In what way does this affect your life? If your personal moral code prevents you from trying this dish, so be it.
I am an atheist who grew up orthodox Jewish. I probably wouldn't be make this dish because some deep seeded feeling will prevent me (despite my mind saying something else). But I couldn't care less what someone else would do.
Besides, I prefer sweet matzo brai.
I am an atheist who grew up orthodox Jewish. I probably wouldn't be make this dish because some deep seeded feeling will prevent me (despite my mind saying something else). But I couldn't care less what someone else would do.
Besides, I prefer sweet matzo brai.
Pesha
April 14, 2014
I see both sides of the coin here....but really this is not funny. Probably delish, but frankly you could have chosen an actual dish that IS appropriate for Passover instead of this one. More than anything it is in poor taste. Next thing you'll be suggesting is ketchup on latkes.
jsgjtg
April 14, 2014
I absolutely could NOT believe the very poor decision to post a Jewish holiday recipe with pork in it - Food 52 you are better than this.
Randitaggart
April 13, 2014
As a kosher, vegetarian, practicing, traditional Jew (we all seem to be very hung up on labeling ourselves in this thread), I was disappointed and shocked by the recipe choice. Most Jews appreciate a good joke, but I concur that the timing left a bit to be desired. And the spitting in the face of every dietary tradition imaginable within a single recipe (adding cream???) was over the top. I generally prefer to post positive comments; however, this blew my mind. A more universally appealing (read appetizing and edible) recipe would have been greatly appreciated and appropriate.
sweetlolo
April 13, 2014
Wow. As a Passover-keeping member of the tribe myself, I'm shocked at how many people were offended by this. My first thought when I saw the post was "Yum". Even if you keep strictly kosher at all times and not just during the holiday, it's clear this wasn't meant to offend and was just meant to be a cute riff on a holiday classic. And matzoh brei is hardly sacred - it's not like they were suggesting shrimp charoset or filling Elijah's cup with Jagermeister. There's nothing symbolic about matzoh brei - it's just a tasty way of varying things to get through the week or use up leftover matzoh.
Lynn B.
April 13, 2014
Oy! It takes chutzpah to post such a recipe on the eve of Pesach. I am not offended, but I'm not amused either. The timing is inappropriate.
rosalind5
April 13, 2014
Another non-offended Jew here. We'll be eating this for breakfast oh-so happily after Passover.
Africancook
April 13, 2014
It's really not funny and not appropriate. Food 52 is now the only food website I subscribe to and I was shocked to see this made it into the newsletter. Matzo represents the oppression of the Jewish people which not only happened in Egypt but in many European countries not so long ago. The fact that some Jews eat shellfish and pork products and say they don't care does NOT make it acceptable.
Halaji
April 13, 2014
Thank you for trying to explain. Can you help me understand what exactly makes it inappropriate? Why is it unacceptable to mix a symbol of Jewish oppression with a nonkosher food?
sexyLAMBCHOPx
April 13, 2014
Halaji - As a Jew, Jeremy Pepper's comments hit the nail on the head for me (see below). Really bad timing and insensitive. Also, the recycled Passover recipes & content in general from Food52 offering Passover inspiration is non existent. An apologize should be given by the recipe author and Food52.
Halaji
April 13, 2014
sexyLAMBCHOPx - I would sincerely like to understand why you believe the original post is insensitive. Insensitive in what sense? To whom about what? And, in the spirit of tomorrow's symbolic question, why is this week different from all other weeks?; why would this post be less insensitive on a different week? The post inspired many charges of inappropriateness, so there must be something there, but I haven't been able to clarify the offense. I'd be interested in your thoughtful explanation.
Africancook
April 14, 2014
Being oppressed and slaves for centuries isn't a laughing matter. I lived in two racist countries and witnessed that suffering first hand. Passover is a holy festival with certain symbolic foods representing our suffering followed by freedom by G-d's hand. To focus the spotlight on one of those foods and then mix it with a totally forbidden one is disgusting. Refer to your Yom Kippur machzor (prayer book) about the sin of levity - jesting about something that is not funny.
Halaji
April 13, 2014
As a Jew who is not offended by this post, I am curious about what others find offensive. It has been asserted that the post is offensive, insensitive, and disrespectful. It has been said to be timed poorly and to mock Jews. May I ask respectfully of those who hold those views what it is about the post that you find offensive? What makes it so in your eyes? What is the line that it crosses and how is it that you draw the line there?
Lucy R.
April 13, 2014
Want to add, never underestimate the power of food to honor tradition among people who lost their families, or who aren't religious.
Lucy R.
April 13, 2014
Ilan Hall serves bacon wrapped matzoh balls at his restaurant as a riff of the cooking habits of his one Jewish and one non-Jewish parents. But if you've seen him on Top Chef or on his show on Esquire Network, you get that his persona is he's a wannabe punk asshole. This recipe is just plain disrespectful. As for the timing, your Jewish editor should know better.
Elise
April 13, 2014
I was also offended reading this, mostly because of the timing. It does seem to make a mockery of a Jewish dish that is traditionally eaten during Passover right before the holiday is to begin. Matzo is readily available in most big grocery stores all year round in the U.S. Why couldn't this recipe have waited until after the holiday?
Yooj
April 13, 2014
Emily...educate yourself about Passover. There's a lot of symbolism involved in the holiday, and it doesn't involve pigs. It involves the enslavement of Jewish people. Matzoh symbolizes the fact that Jews living under the Pharaohs didn't have time to let their bread rise while trying to escape through the desert. Horseradish is a bitter herb, symbolizing the bitterness of the times they endured. Charoseth symbolizes the mortar used by the Jews during enslavement. Dipping parsley in salt water three times symbolizes the tears they shed. Nowhere does pork, bacon or anything to do with a pig appear, for good reason. It is forbidden as unclean. Time to clean up your own act, and show a little respect for others, instead of for your own questionable sense of humor.
SDSholkoff
April 13, 2014
The most offensive and disrespectful was that a Jewish editor had so little understanding and empathy. You need sensitivity training before approving another article about anything.
Yooj
April 13, 2014
Emily....give it up. Stop digging your hole deeper and deeper. Clearly you've struck a nerve, and offended a lot of readers. It's within your control to remove this post, which would be the right thing to do. That you're more interested in defending the indefensible and justifying the unjustifiable, as opposed to simply doing the right thing, really makes me wonder. You picked the wrong time of the year to mix bacon and matzoh. Maybe you need to give up self-denial for lent.
JenMor
April 13, 2014
This is gratuitously disrespectful and insulting. It's as though you would serve blood pudding to Christians on Easter. Feh!
Halaji
April 13, 2014
I am a nonbelieving Jew. I am mostly vegetarian. When I read the headline I was offended. By the end of the post I was no longer offended, I was smiling. Others have a right to be offended, but it is not necessary. Thank you for the clever take on a classic in our home (we have matzo brie once or twice a week throughout the year). Our four-year-old asks for it almost every morning, and my wife loves bacon as a treat, so I'll try it for her birthday. Also, matzo brie works well with bits of lox and cream cheese stirred in. Thanks for sharing your culinary delights.
Caryl
April 13, 2014
You are far from funny. Obviously you DO lack the humor gene inherited by most Jews and which you can't get by marrying a Jew. Perhaps if you'd come up with a different name for the dish, it might not be offensive. Perhaps a Goy's take on Matzoh Brie might have been better. Your seemingly subtle anti semetic recipe is anti semetic nonetheless. Happy and Healthy Passover to all who observe. There are just some things you don't mess with.
fiveandspice
April 13, 2014
Sorry the title is offensive. I got the name from linzarella who is Jewish and whose recipe it is, so I didn't imagine it would be so offensive. But, I'm happy to henceforth refer to it as a goy's take on matzo brei. It suits it!
linzarella
April 14, 2014
As the Jew who created the bacon matzoh brei recipe and encouraged Emily to write about it, I'm sorry I opened her up to such criticism! However, there's nothing more Jewish than a good debate, and the fact that my matzoh brei stirred one up surely compensates for its non-kosher content.
Mari G.
April 13, 2014
I love the comments, I was offended at the title.. Glad to see the comments! We eat matza all year , and we love it.
Yooj
April 13, 2014
There are no doubt plenty of Jews who don't keep kosher and who are not so religiously observant as to deny themselves bacon, but perhaps you could have at least waited until AFTER Passover to post this, as something to do with leftover matzos. It's just a little too "in your face" for my taste. Then again, maybe you could post a recipe for Jesus on the Hot Cross Bun and offend so many more, while evening up the score.
fiveandspice
April 13, 2014
Oh I kind of like the Jesus on a hot cross bun thing. We actually have leg of lamb for Easter - like I was telling aargersi - and we call it leg of lamb of god. And we slaughter a lamb cake. If we are it for breakfast I'd total post about it. We're actually religious people, but believe in not taking ourselves too seriously.
Yooj
April 13, 2014
I don't take myself too seriously, either, so we agree on that. But I do believe that everyone deserves respect. Since more people have been killed throughout history in the name of God than for any other reason I'm aware of, and because there are so many trouble spots in the world because of differing beliefs, we could all do a little better by not trivializing the beliefs of others. And oh, by the way, while I am not even religiously observant, I do know that God is capitalized.
Jeremy P.
April 13, 2014
Yep, wrong and pretty offensive.
I debated unsubscribing after the April Fools Joke but this pretty much nailed it for me.
I debated unsubscribing after the April Fools Joke but this pretty much nailed it for me.
Jeremy P.
April 13, 2014
It's not - it's offensive especially the week of Passover.
And it'd be one thing if you were Jewish - I'm guessing from your bio and your other recipes that you're not - so it just reads as if mocking Judaism.
And it'd be one thing if you were Jewish - I'm guessing from your bio and your other recipes that you're not - so it just reads as if mocking Judaism.
fiveandspice
April 13, 2014
It's in preparation for what to do with your leftover matzo, if you have any. My husband is Jewish and I'm not, and I say in my first paragraph not to take me seriously. The recipe itself comes from food52er linzarella who is Jewish and who shared it with me because she thought I should write a column about it.
Jeremy P.
April 13, 2014
Which goes to my point (and others): you could have waited, as people usually don't have leftover matzoh the week prior to Passover.
fiveandspice
April 13, 2014
Yeah, it's one of those editorial things where you write about back to school when it's still August, Halloween articles the first week of October, Thanksgiving articles for the entire month of November...Anyhow, I do apologize for offending you!
Brette W.
April 13, 2014
Hi Jeremy -- I'm Emily's editor, and I'm also Jewish. I'm so sorry if you were offended by the timing of this -- as Emily mentions, it is all meant to be light-hearted, and in no way was she trying to be disrespectful of the holiday. Since matzo is readily available during this time, we thought it would be a fun and delicious breakfast to have on the site for those who don't keep kosher.
Jeremy P.
April 13, 2014
Brette, you should have known better. Even a lapsed Jew wouldn't have thought this was fine.
Matzoh is readily available all days of the year - it's in that little Kosher section of almost every grocery store - so that excuse doesn't hold water.
Were you trying to be cutesy and it backfired? Could you not find some Passover type recipes like every other food site and wanted to go against the grain? Go with the whole "everyone loves bacon" which is such the overdone and dead food trend anyway?
And yes, I know way too well about editorial calendars and how they work but this was just done in bad taste.
Matzoh is readily available all days of the year - it's in that little Kosher section of almost every grocery store - so that excuse doesn't hold water.
Were you trying to be cutesy and it backfired? Could you not find some Passover type recipes like every other food site and wanted to go against the grain? Go with the whole "everyone loves bacon" which is such the overdone and dead food trend anyway?
And yes, I know way too well about editorial calendars and how they work but this was just done in bad taste.
amysarah
April 10, 2014
Pretty hard to offend me - my mother's seder was likely to include delicious matzoh ball soup...and very non-kosher French wine. Forget margarine instead of butter. (To quote her, "I relate to God through my heart and mind, not my stomach.) But another way to add a salty, smokey flavor to matzoh brei - smoked salmon. Lox, eggs and onions is a Jewish deli classic, so matzoh brei would be a great riff on that.
fiveandspice
April 13, 2014
Brei with lox, onions, and capers is the most delicious sounding thing! I want it right now!
connoisseur
April 10, 2014
Better to soak the matzoh (leave the h in for Hebrew) in milk rather than water. You can send the leftover milk to David Chang, He can use it to make Matzoh Milk Ice Cream.
aargersi
April 10, 2014
I love it! Do you cook rabbit on Easter, too? I do! The ONLY way this could be offensive (to me) is if you dumped a can of cream of something soup in there. Or even had one in your pantry.
fiveandspice
April 13, 2014
Actually we cook lamb and call it leg of lamb of God. Not joking. We also make a lamb shaped cake and have raspberry jam come out of it when we slice it. We're kind of terrible people! :)
aargersi
April 13, 2014
That is the best thing ever - we need an article about that cake! Do you have a lamb mold? I need the full 411!!! And just BTW - I am from Jewish background, half my family is observant, and I am STILL not offended. Humor, people.
sexyLAMBCHOPx
April 10, 2014
Hebrew National Beef Salami, cut up tastes better with matzo brie (with ketchup) IMHO.
Kristen M.
April 10, 2014
You haven't offended me -- this sounds like literally everything I want out of breakfast, down to dragging the bacon through the maple spill (which usually gets me funny looks but I think is the best part).
See what other Food52 readers are saying.