This Healthy Vegetarian Matzo Lasagna is the best easy Passover recipe that uses leftover matzo crackers from the seder – so good and so easy, you’ll make it all year!
Happy almost Passover to my Jewish brothers and sisters. If you’re unsure what this Jewish holiday is all about, let me break it down in gentile terms.
What is Passover and Why Do We Eat Matzo?
Basically, Passover celebrates Spring, birth and rebirth, and the emancipation of the Israelites people from slavery in Egypt. After being enslaved by Egyptian pharaohs, Gd sent Moses to Pharaoh to ask him to let his people go. When he refused, we smited the Egyptians with the 10 plagues (like locusts and other terrible things…). The worst plague was the death of all firstborn sons (NOT MY BABY E!!!), so on the last day, God came to deliver this plague across the land, but the Jews were instructed to mark their homes with lamb’s blood (the sacrificial lamb). These homes were “passed over” by Gd.
This plague finally breaks Pharaoh down, and he instructs all the Israelites to leave. But they leave in such haste, they don’t have time to let their bread rise. This is why we eat only unleavened bread (aka matzo!) on Passover.
What Are the Key Ingredients for this vegetarian matzo lasagna?
Cheese – Because whats a lasagna without a healthy amount of cheese? Like any classic lasagna dish, I stuck to ricotta cheese for the filling. As for the melty cheese toppings, I opted for mozzarella and parmesan.Â
Mushroom, Zucchini, and Spinach – These are my veggies of choice for the lasagna filling simply because I think they complement each other quite nicely. However, you are free to use whatever veggies you have lying around.Â
Marinara Sauce – I prefer to use a nice tomato passata or any other low salt, low sugar variety. Â
Matzo Crackers – It wouldn’t be a matzo lasagna without matzo crackers now would it? In this recipe, we use matzo crackers to substitute for lasagna noodles.Â
Why I LOVE this Kosher for Passover Matzo Lasagna
OK truth be told, I don’t like matzo. I just basically choose to eat LESS carbs during Passover because I can’t be bothered eating bland, hard crackers. But this Passover matzo lasagna is NEXT LEVEL GOOD.
This is a vegetarian matzo lasagna that’s PACKED with veggies and actually not a ton of carbs since we can’t mix dairy and meat in Kosher laws. If you don’t keep Kosher or Kosher for Passover, but want to try this easy lasagna (it’s WAY easier than a normal lasagna) than you can totally add meat in as well.
To make this Veggie Matzo Lasagna, just grab your favourite pasta sauce, saute up some veggies, grate the cheese and LAYER that bad boy up. Honestly, I even gave some to Baby E and after a few tries, he was sold. My husband finished the entire thing AND IT’S NOT EVEN PASSOVER YET. So I think it’s safe to say that this Passover Matzo Lasagna will definitely be on our menu this Passover.
FAQ About This Recipe
Here are some of the major questions I often get about this recipe.
Can I make this passover recipe vegan?
Totally! Instead of the ricotta cheese filling you can try using tofu instead if you want to get that same texture. You can also swap in for some vegan cheese as well.Â
Is this lasagna recipe Gluten Free?
Its not gluten free but it totally can be! You’ll just have to use gluten free matzo crackers instead.Â
Is this vegetarian lasagna kid friendly?
Oh yes. My kid is a total cheese head and loves to cheese pulls. There were definitely no complaints from my little guy with this recipe!
Do you have any other easy passover recipes?
Absolutely! Here are some of my favourites.
VEGAN PASSOVER MATZO BRITTLE WITH SALTED COCONUT SUGAR TOFFEEÂ
ALMOND CHERRY CHOCOLATE MERINGUE COOKIESÂ
Now loves, what are you excited to make for passover? What kind of recipes do you make using matzo crackers? Leave me a comment below, and help a fellow Jew out!
Healthy Vegetarian Matzo Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion diced
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms sliced
- 2 zucchinis halved and sliced into 1/2 moons
- 3 1/2 cups low sugar low salt marinara sauce
- 15 oz tub part skim ricotta cheese
- 300 grams frozen spinach thawed and squeezed to remove excess moisture
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 matzo crackers whole wheat or gluten free
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese grated
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- Basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a deep 9″ square baking dish.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add in the onion. Saute until it starts to soften, then add in the mushrooms and zucchini. Cook for an additional 4 minutes, then add the garlic for another 30 seconds. Set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together the ricotta, spinach, egg, pepper and salt.
- Layer 1: Add about 1/2 cup of the sauce to the bottom of the greased dish. Add 1 matzo cracker, then about 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the veggies, about a cup of the sauce, and 1/4 of the cheese.
- Layer 2: Repeat with matzo, ricotta, veggies, sauce, cheese.
- Layer 3: Repeat with matzo, ricotta, veggies, sauce, cheese.
- Layer 4: Finish with the remaining matzo, sauce and cheese.
- Cover in foil that has been greased to prevent the cheese from sticking, then bake for about 40 minutes. Remove the foil and increase the heat to broil. Broil for 5 minutes or until bubbly and golden. Allow to sit before cutting into squares and topping with basil, if desired.
Nutrition
Updated on June 25th, 2020
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Bohannon says
This was soooo delicious. I never would have thought of this and I was about to throw the crackers out. I friend knew that I would try anything. The only thing I did not have was mushrooms, but it still was delicious!!! 5 stars hands down. I will definitely make this again with the mushrooms!
Nancy Schwartz says
How to modify so I can use FRESH spinach instead of frozen? Would love your ideas before trying for the holiday…thanks!
Abbey Sharp says
Hi Nancy, I’ve only made with recipe with frozen. However, you can try using 1.5 cups of sauteed spinach.
Aliza says
We made this last year and everyone loved it! I plan to make it again this year, but wondering if I could freeze ahead. Would you freeze prior to baking or after?
Abbey Sharp says
Hi Aliza, glad it was a hit! You can do either, however I wouldn’t recommend refreezing if you are using any previously frozen ingredients (like the spinach).
Laura says
I’m planning to make this for a lacto vegetarian. What can I use to replace the egg?
Abbey Sharp says
Hi Laura, I’m not sure that there’s a good replacement for the egg in this case, as it’s used for browning/colour and binding. I haven’t tried a flax egg, but if you do let me know how it goes!
Michael says
This is delicious! My wife has been disappointed by matzo lasagnas in the past, so we were a little hesitant about trying this recipe, but there was no need. It’s simply delicious, with plenty of cheese and veges that are just right. Thank you!
Samantha says
Next time I would cook the spinach some more instead of just thawing before putting it into the casserole. But otherwise a wonderful recipe. This is a delicious Passover dish!! Thank you!
Scott C says
I came here looking for matzo cracker ideas and am grateful for this is brilliant idea!
Abbey Sharp says
its soooo delish
Natalie says
This lasagna sounds so delicious. So many wonderful flavors are inside and so many cheese. Yum. I can’t wait to make this for my family.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
I bet the mushrooms and spinach in this taste so good! What a yummy recipe for Passover.
Abbey Sharp says
oh that would be amazing!!
Kalee says
Yum! I love that this is a little different than the traditional Passover food and so delicious too! I hope you have a great holiday!
Abbey Sharp says
thanks Kalee!
Emily @Sinful Nutrition says
This is such a great idea for passover! I am all for any and everything to do with lasagna!
Abbey Sharp says
yes !!!!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
i have never had matzo but i could totally see this being used in lasagna. does it get soggy or has texture?
Abbey Sharp says
not soggy, but not like a firm cracker, kinda in between-so delicious!
Deborah Brooks says
I have made the matzo lasagna before and everyone loved it! It’s so easy and delicious
Abbey Sharp says
sooooo good