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Matzah pizza (sometimes spelled matzo pizza) is a type of pizza made by baking a piece of matzah that has been topped with sauce and cheese. Because Jews are forbidden from eating leavened bread during Passover, some individuals use matzah as a substitute for traditional pizza crusts during the holiday.
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Background
During Passover, Jews are forbidden from eating bread that is made with yeast or leavening agents. Given these restrictions, some individuals will make pizza by substituting matzah for traditional pizza crust. However, some food manufacturers now supply traditional pizza crusts that are made with kosher-for-Passover ingredients, and some recipes suggest substituting chopped matzah for yeast dough. During Passover, some restaurants will also feature matzah pizza on their menus to substitute for traditional pizza.
Preparation
Matzah pizza is prepared by covering a piece of matzah with sauce and melted cheese. It can be eaten as is, or baked first. In the latter case, the matzah is first softened in water; alternately, the sauce ingredients are used to soften the matzah. Other traditional pizza toppings may be used in addition to cheese. For example, chef Spike Mendelsohn suggests topping matzah pizza with figs and asparagus, peppers and feta cheese, or cherry tomatoes, olives, and rosemary, while Martha Stewart recommends placing a fried egg on top of a matzah pizza. Other recipes suggest using crushed tomatoes instead of tomato sauce, and some recipes suggest substituting hummus for sauce. Some recipes recommend baking the matzah and toppings on a baking sheet, either in a conventional oven or in a microwave oven, while other recipes recommend baking matzah pizza in a casserole pan, so that the dish resembles a layered lasagna. Vegan recipes suggest utilizing vegan cheese or omitting the cheese entirely.
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.