Matzah is one of the oldest dishes, known since biblical times. It appeared during the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and still exists. Of course, the biblical matzah was somewhat different from the one that is being prepared now. Oval or round cakes were somewhat thicker than they are now. They were hand-molded and baked in community bakeries. At the end of the century before last, they began to make square matzah. Now cakes can be both round and oval. Usually they are bought in the synagogue, but such an opportunity is not always available. Therefore, matzo can also be made at home.
It is necessary
-
- flour - 3 kg;
- water - 1
- 5 l;
- sieve;
- rolling pin;
- fork;
- oven.
Instructions
Step 1
Matza is made from unleavened dough. No food is needed for cooking, except flour and water. Now there are different types of matzo on sale, including those with added sugar and eggs. However, traditional tortillas should be free of any additives. Pre-sift the flour and sprinkle it with a slide. Make a hole at the top.
Step 2
Pour cold water into the "crater". This should be done gradually, in a thin stream. Knead the dough. It must be kneaded very quickly. Speed is important not only as a tribute to tradition. In unleavened dough, there are no elements that would prevent the formation of lumps. Delay will lead to the fact that in some places the mass will begin to dry out, and it will not be easy to make it homogeneous and elastic.
Step 3
Flour the surface on which you will roll the tortillas. This can be done in different ways. Sometimes they make one huge square cake about the size of a dining table, and then cut it with a knife into even squares or cut out round cakes with a saucer. You can divide the dough into several parts and immediately roll out the cakes of the desired shape. In any case, they should be very thin, no thicker than one and a half centimeters. In biblical times, the rich bribed bakers to make thin matzo.
Step 4
Use a fork to prick the cakes in several places. Place them on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at a temperature not exceeding 150 ° C. Matzah is not baked for long. From the moment the first drops of water get into the flour until the end of baking, no more than 18 minutes should pass. Therefore, before placing the cakes in the oven, it must be warmed up to the appropriate temperature.
Step 5
Matza exists not only as an independent dish. It can be part of other foods. Some dishes are made from matzah flour. To prepare it, you must first bake the matzo and then grind it into powder in a mortar.
