matzo meal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowCulinary, Cultural/Religious (Jewish)
Quick answer
What does “matzo meal” mean?
A coarse flour made from crushed, unleavened matzo crackers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A coarse flour made from crushed, unleavened matzo crackers.
A key ingredient in Jewish cuisine, used for breading, baking (like matzo balls), and as a binder, especially during Passover when leavened grains are forbidden.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK may occasionally use 'matzah meal' or 'matzoh meal', but 'matzo' is common in both. The food context and cultural use are identical.
Connotations
Identical cultural and culinary connotations. It is a specialist term understood in Jewish communities and general food contexts in both regions.
Frequency
Frequency is similarly low in both dialects, appearing almost exclusively in Jewish culinary or Passover-related contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “matzo meal” in a Sentence
[Verb] + matzo meal + [Prep] + [Noun] (e.g., coat the chicken in matzo meal)[Noun] + made with + matzo mealVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “matzo meal” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The matzo-meal coating was perfectly crisp.
- She bought a matzo-meal product for the holiday.
American English
- The matzo-meal mixture should rest before forming balls.
- This is a matzo-meal based recipe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specialty food import/export or grocery retail.
Academic
Rare, appears in cultural, anthropological, or religious studies of Jewish traditions.
Everyday
Used in home cooking, recipe discussions, and during the Passover holiday.
Technical
Used in food science or culinary arts regarding unleavened products and Passover dietary law compliance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “matzo meal”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “matzo meal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “matzo meal”
- Misspelling as 'matzah meal', 'matzoh meal' (variant spellings are acceptable, but 'matzo' is standard).
- Using interchangeably with 'matzo cake meal' (which is a finer grind).
- Confusing it with whole matzo crackers.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Matzo cake meal is ground much finer, almost like a powder, and is used for cakes and pastries. Regular matzo meal has a coarser, breadcrumb-like texture.
In non-Passover cooking, yes, for texture. However, during Passover, leavened breadcrumbs are forbidden, so matzo meal is essential. The flavour will also be different.
No. Traditional matzo is made from wheat and water, so matzo meal contains gluten.
In supermarkets with a well-stocked Jewish foods section, online, or in specialty kosher grocery stores year-round.
A coarse flour made from crushed, unleavened matzo crackers.
Matzo meal is usually culinary, cultural/religious (jewish) in register.
Matzo meal: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmætsəʊ miːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːtsoʊ miːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MATZO' is the cracker, 'MEAL' is what it becomes when ground up for a MEAL (food).
Conceptual Metaphor
A foundational substance (like sand or soil) for building specific traditional dishes.
Practice
Quiz
During which holiday is matzo meal most commonly used?