A staple of Sephardi Passover tables, mina de matza (sometimes simply called mina) is a type of savory pie stacked with sheets of matzah and fillings like seasoned meat, eggplant, or spinach and cheese. With layers of mashed potatoes and spinach both laced with Parmesan, this one from Alexandra’s family makes a wonderful main for a vegetarian Seder or Passover lunch.
Excerpted from “The Jewish Holiday Table” by Naama Shefi and the Jewish Food Society (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2024.
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Potato, Spinach and Cheese Mina
This comforting Sephardi dish is set to become a Passover staple, if it isn’t already.
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6-8
Ingredients
Units
- 2 russet or 3 Yukon Gold potatoes (about 1 ½ lb/675 g), scrubbed, halved if large
- kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups (about 6 oz/170 g) shredded Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 lb (450 g) baby spinach, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 4–5 sheets matzah (7-inch/17.5 cm squares)
Instructions
- Start with the potatoes: Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan, cover with water, add 1 Tbsp salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the potatoes can be easily pierced with a knife, 20-25 minutes. Drain and let cool until the potatoes are cool enough to handle but still warm.
- Peel the potatoes and put them in a large bowl. Mash them with a potato ricer or fork until smooth, with no chunks. Add 1½ tsp salt, ¾ cup (85 g) of the Parmesan cheese, the cream cheese and the eggs and mix well with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth and uniform. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, if you like. Set aside.
- To make the spinach mixture, put the chopped spinach in a medium bowl and add ½ cup (55 g) of the Parmesan and 1 tsp salt. Mix until the cheese and salt are evenly distributed. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 10-inch (25 cm) springform pan with 1 tsp of the olive oil.
- Fill a container that’s large enough to hold a matzah sheet with about an inch (2.5 cm) of water and stir in ¼ tsp salt. Line a plate or tray with paper towels.
- Soak the matzahs one at a time in the water until the sheets are flexible yet still firm enough to hold their shape; this could take anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute or two. Gently place each soaked matzah on the paper towels to absorb excess moisture.
- To assemble to mina, line the bottom of the springform pan with a matzah, then fill in the gaps around the edges with pieces of matzah that you tear to fit. Spread half of the spinach-Parmesan mixture over the matzah in an even layer. Add another layer of moistened matzah on top, gently pressing the matzah into the spinach layer to make space for the remaining layers.
- Spread the rest of the spinach mixture over the matzah layer. Place another layer of matzah over the spinach, gently pressing the matzah into the spinach to make room for the remaining layer.
- Spread the potato mixture evenly over the matzah layer. Use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to make swirls in the surface of the potatoes so they brown attractively in the oven. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan on top of the potato layer and drizzle the remaining olive oil on top.
- Bake the mina until deep golden brown, 40-50 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the mina to cool for about 5 minutes, then run the tip of a sharp knife around the edges of the mina to release it from the pan.
- Remove the sides of the springform, transfer the mina to a serving platter, and cut into wedges. Serve hot.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Entree
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Hello,
Is it possible to freeze this Unbaked? If so, what would suggest for the baking time.
Or, if it is better to bake then freeze, the same question. We have a Shiva lunch on April 28th, so it would help one way or the other. Thank you so much. Wishing you all the best of Passovers. Sharon
Hi Sharon, we have not tried freezing this recipe. However, this recipe freezes beautifully, if you’re looking for a veggie main. Wishing you a wonderful Passover!
Hi Sharon. I have never frozen this, although was and still is a staple for me at Passover. I believe you could bake this and then freeze it without a problem. Good luck and hope it is enjoyed by all
Requires a lot of prep work – which took me, an amateur cook, a long time – boiling potatoes, shredding cheese, chopping spinach, putting it together and cooking for almost an hour. but absolutely worth every step.