Recipe: Mexican Matzo Brei or Jewish Chilaquiles?

Recipe: Mexican Matzo Brei or Jewish Chilaquiles?

February 10, 2008
Breakfast Recipes

Mexicanmatzobrei Mexican Matzo Brei or Jewish Chilaquiles

Matzo Brei is a classic Jewish egg dish, often eaten during Passover when leavened bread is forbidden. (Matza can also be spelled Matzo, Matzoh, or Matzah). Everyone has their own preferred technique. Some like to soak the matza in water first and the drain it, some soak it in the egg like French toast. Some break it up large and some small. Some fry it up like an omelette in a solid cake and others break it up like scrambled eggs.

Chilaquiles are a classic Mexican dish in which corn tortillas are fried up crispy with scrambled eggs. Again, everyone has a style, with different choices of cheese, sauces, chilis, etc.

We happened to have Trader Joe’s “Handmade” Corn Tortillas on hand today, and I felt like making chilaquiles. But these thicker tortillas don’t easily fry up crispy, they develop more of a tender texture that reminded me of the matzo brei. Absolutely delicious! Here’s the recipe:

Mexican Matzo Brei or Jewish Chilaquiles For 1
  • 1 Trader Joe's "Handmade" corn tortilla, torn into small pieces
  • 1 T. canola oil
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3 T. grated cheddar cheese
  • salt, pepper
  • hot sauce
  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over a high flame. Add the canola oil, and a few seconds later toss in the tortilla pieces.
  2. Fry for a few minutes, shaking occasionally until the strips are a little crispy but still chewy.
  3. Add the eggs, salt and pepper and cook like normal scrambled eggs.
  4. When the eggs are just about done, add the cheese and cook til melted
  5. Serve with your favorite hot sauce. I've been enjoying Bullard's Louisana Habanero lately.

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6 Comments

tiddleywink
What a coincidence... I blogged about matzo(h) brei the other day, and a reader commented that he'd never seen a post about it before. And then lookee here! We must be anxious for Spring to arrive.
Steve
I just made a delicious tortilla brei using flour tortillas. Here's what I did: (1) Poke a few holes in the flour tortillas so they don't balloon up in the toaster, then toast in toaster oven until lightly browned and crispy. (2) Rinse quickly with water on both sides of each tortilla, just so it's moist (to absorb egg). (3) Break into pieces of your desired size, then mix in with scrambled egg, some garlic powder, and some seasonings (I used Mrs. Dash table blend), and salt if desired (I didn't find it necessary). (4) Place into a skillet (I used cast iron) and cook on medium heat until browned on the bottom, then turn over and cook until browned on the other side. Watch closely to avoid burning (d'oh!). (5) Enjoy!
Eve
I'm going to try to make these with matzoh for Passover.
Kristen
I love the title of this post! I've always thought of Matzo Brei as a sort of Chilaquiles, Jewish-style. I will definitely give this a try - thanks for the post!
Tony
No disrespect or offense intended.. a Correction to what you call chilaquiles, Actually is the recipe of migas con huevo or migas Nortenas, typical in the border towns around Mexico and Us border. the Salsa is optional after they are cooked, chilaquiles are more like a chopped enchilada. The totopos or tortilla chips are drowned in salsa verde (green) or roja (red). The above recipe of migas Nortenas can be taken another step up by adding "Pico de Gallo" Minced onion (or to taste), tomato and Chile (Serrano, Jalaapeno, or verde "Long Green"} they can be dry or wet by adding tomato sauce. (Cheese of your choice optional)
Mark Camacho
Technically, because it's made with eggs, it should more properly called Jewish *Migas* -- though only those in the Texas area or Southwest might know what those are. I was looking up this recipe because I had an idea to use green enchilada sauce instead.

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