December 19, 2016 by Pechluck 6 Comments
My sister mentioned a show called My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to me, and I ended up binging on the entire first season in one weekend when I found it on Netflix (it’s also available on Hulu). If you haven’t heard of this show, it’s about a girl who runs into her childhood first love and moves to California to follow him. The episodes tend to center around her schemes how to get together with him, believing he is her destiny. You can see where the “crazy” part of this comes in, but the show did a good job in the first season of balancing the realistic fact a woman can be smart yet a bit unsound about love at the same time, fed by unrealistic messages about how true love can rationalize lots of wackiness. There are also lots of humorous musical numbers in each episode with fun lyrics. In a recent episode in the current season, the main character Rebecca makes kugel, and suddenly I wanted it.
Kugel is a Jewish egg noodle casserole dish with a custard of eggs, milk, and cheese. It may be sweet by adding sugar and cinnamon and perhaps vanilla and fruit, but there are also versions that are savory which is what I think the character Rebecca made. They are baked in rectangular pans that are then served in squares.
This dish is my twist on this version by Farm to Table LA who followed her grandmother’s worn, faded, and well loved recipe card. It used a lot more butter, eggs, and cheese than others, but trust a recipe card that looks like that straight from any grandma. The butter helps create the crispy edges that are 40% part of the highlights of this dish, and the egg and cheese once cooled makes this hold together well.
I did add additional vegetables with sauteed onions and I had some leftover peas, but you could add any vegetable: if I had it I would have loved sauteed spinach and mushrooms too.
This recipe makes 9 servings.
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces of wide egg noodles, cooked al dente
- 1 stick butter
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 32 ounces small curd cottage cheese
- 5 tablespoons of sour cream
- 1 cup diced sautéed onions (optional)
- 1 cup frozen peas, or you can use sauteed spinach, mushrooms, etc. (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper and more to taste
- Grated Parmesan (optional) to serve
- Chopped parsley to garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Cook the egg noodles until al dente, drain the water and set aside. If you want, you can put in a teaspoon of butter and mix it so the noodles don’t stick to each other while you complete the other steps if not doing them simultaneously.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Put a stick of butter in a 13 x 9 pan and let it melt in the oven as it preheats.
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the 5 eggs, 1 cup milk, 32 ounces of cottage cheese, and 5 tablespoons of sour cream. Season generously with the 1/2 teaspoons each of salt and pepper. Optionally also combine in the 1 cup of sautéed diced onions or peas. Instead of peas you could also add other savory ingredients like mushrooms and or sautéed spinach.
- Add the cooked egg noodles into the egg and cheese mixture and stir.
- Pour the noodles with eggs and cheese mixture directly over the melted butter: no need to further stir.
- Cover and bake at 350 F for 45 minutes
- Uncover and bake for approx another 15-30 more minutes – keep checking until you see the sides and top of the dish are golden brown and there are lots of browned edges and top, but not so dark brown it is burning.
- Garnish with the chopped parsley (optional). You can serve the dish warm, but I think it’s best after an hour when the Kugel has set and is firmer. Otherwise when you cut it into the squarish pieces it will not hold together.
Serve with salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan to top per each individual’s taste. The best pieces are the corner pieces of course since they offer more crunchy parts. It tastes fine without the grated Parmesan, but I love making it snow cheese.
Have you ever heard of or had kugel before, or any other Jewish dish? Do you watch My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend?
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FAQs
The common denominators of all true kugels are a starch base, eggs (or egg substitute), and fat, without the addition of water or other liquids. If the dish lacks any of the basic ingredients, it is technically a casserole or cake, not a kugel.
How long does kugel keep in the fridge? ›
To store the kugel, you can either cover up the whole casserole or slice and wrap it up in individual pieces. It'll keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Why do people eat kugel? ›
Kugels are a mainstay of festive meals in Ashkenazi Jewish homes, particularly on the Jewish Sabbath and other Jewish holidays or at a tish. Some Hasidic Jews believe that eating kugel on the Jewish Sabbath brings special spiritual blessings, particularly if that kugel was served on the table of a Hasidic Rebbe.
Is noodle Kugel better hot or cold? ›
Do You Eat Noodle Kugel Hot or Cold? While noodle kugel should be removed from the oven and cooled for at least 30 minutes after baking, it can be eaten at any temperature. Eaten warm, when just set, noodle kugel's texture is more akin to a baked mac and cheese (the extra-crunchy noodles on top might be the best part.)
Why do Jews eat kugel? ›
As Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz once said, “Jews eat lots of lokshen on Shabbat because noodles are symbolic of the unity of the people of Israel: They are so tangled that they can never be separated.” Noodle kugel may not actually be eaten by all Jews, but it has clearly reached far beyond mere Ashkenazi cuisine.
What does "kugel" mean in Yiddish? ›
The name of the dish comes from the Yiddish word kugel meaning 'sphere, globe, ball'; thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round balls of dough that were placed in the center of the cholent, a traditional Shabbat stew, to cook alongside it and absorb its flavors for its later use as a side dish ...
Why does my noodle kugel fall apart? ›
If the noodles cook longer, they get too soft to stick together, and the kugel falls apart.
What to eat with kugel? ›
Kugel is traditionally served as a side dish alongside something meaty like brisket or roast chicken. In this case it would normally be served warm, but it can also be refrigerated and eaten cold the next day. Sweeter versions can also be eaten hot or cold, and taste great with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.
Is kugel sweet or savory? ›
Noodle kugel is a traditional baked dish that's usually served during Jewish holidays, but this version is so good, you're going to want to make it any time of the year for any occasion. It can be sweet or savory, and this one most definitely goes the savory route.
Why do Jews eat egg noodles? ›
History. "Jews eat lots of lokshen on Shabbat because noodles are symbolic of the unity of the people of Israel: They are so tangled that they can never be separated."
Kugel can be served warm or cold, as a side dish, for breakfast, or dessert!
Why is kugel eaten at Hanukkah? ›
It commonly makes an appearance on the dinner table during Shavuot (along with bourekas), when it's traditional to consume dairy foods, and Shabbat because it's said that kugel resembles the manna that fell from heaven. It's the perfect side dish for a Hanukkah latke party, adding some richness to the meal.
What holiday do you eat kugel? ›
A combination of noodles, eggs, cream cheese and more, kugel is a hallmark holiday food and has been passed down from my grandmother, to my father and then to my mother. Thanksgiving and Rosh Hashanah simply are not the holidays without homemade kugel.
Can you reheat kugel in the microwave? ›
Noodle Kugel
Reheat in a 325°F oven until heated through, roughly 30-40 minutes. Microwave: Remove the plastic lid and heat on high for 4-6 minutes in the microwave-safe aluminum container, or until heated through. Stop and stir every 60 seconds to ensure even heating.
What is a kugel German food? ›
Kugel is a baked pudding of sorts. The name comes from a German word meaning round, because they were originally prepared in round dishes.
What makes something a kugel? ›
Kugel is basically the Yiddish/Jewish word for casserole. Sweet noodle kugel is typically made from eggs, noodles, sour cream, and cottage cheese, all baked inside a casserole dish.
What makes a dish a casserole? ›
In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...
What is the English word for kugel? ›
„Kugel“: Femininum
ball bullet, pellet, shot sphere, globe bulb head thick flank roulette ball sphere shot, bowl, ball ball More translations... ball.
