Matzoh cake meal?

[Jenise]

I just looked at a recipe for a "flourless" chocolate torte, and was surprised to see matzoh cake meal listed among the ingredients. I'm familiar with matzoh meal of course, but I've never/seen or heard of the cake meal before--I presume it's matzoh meal in a finer grind, but perhaps it's more than that. Too, it's entirely likely that it's not something available in my neck of the woods, but I'm still curious about it's usefullness as a replacement for refined white flour. Has anyone here ever used it in this manner, and what would the resulting flavor/texture be?

[Daniel Rogov]

Jenise, Hi....

Indeed cake quality matzoh meal or matzoh flour is nothing more than very finely ground matzot and is generally so identified on the package. Let's put it this way though - if it looks as fine as regular flour, it can be used as cake flour.

But, do I have news for whomever wrote that recipe. That recipe is anything but flourless because matzo in its purest form (either as dough or once baked) is made entirely from flour, the major distinction being that it has come in contact with nothing that would make it ferment or rise. Thus, the concept of unleavened bread.

Best
Rogov

[Jenise]

That recipe is anything but flourless because matzo in its purest form (either as dough or once baked) is made entirely from flour

Yes, I guessed that, hence my putting the word 'flour' in quotes but on the other hand thought maybe there was something I didn't understand, otherwise why make/have/use finely ground matzoh at all. Because it's kosher?

[Daniel Rogov]

Jenise, Hi....]

Regular flour is also kosher so that is not the problem. Matzoh flour is not so much kosher as it is specifically kosher for the holiday of Passover when observant Jews refrain from eating any product that has leavened flour in it.

There are actually a few recipes improved by the use of matzoh flour - e.g. macaroon cookies, as a baked base for fish carpaccio or tartare. As to the famed matzoh-balls that can be found in chicken soup, don't use cake quality matzoh flour as you will wind up with matzoh-balls so dense that they would probably "take out" even the most resistant of Iranian nuclear facilities.

Heck, they say that Israel has nuclear weapons. Insignificant. Believe me, if we were to bomb the world with matzoh-balls will put even the neutron bomb to shame. Despite which, from time to time I adore a steaming bowl of chicken soup with matzoh-balls.

Best
Rogov

[Charlie Dawg]

What kind of matzoh-balls do you prefer, Daniel, hard or soft?

[Daniel Rogov]

On the firm side, offering a bit of resistance to the teeth but not so dense that I might consider using them as weapons.

Best
Rogov