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
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.
What is the difference between sweet and savory kugel? ›
Sweet kugel is often made with sugar, raisins, and cinnamon. While it may sound like a dessert, sweet kugel is served as a side dish at meals or for breaking your Yom Kippur fast. Savory kugel may include pepper, a crunchy cornflake or breadcrumb topping, onions, and cheese.
Why is kugel significant? ›
Kugel can be served at Jewish holidays, special events or even a weekend brunch. 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.
What does kugel have in it? ›
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.
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.
Why does my noodle kugel fall apart? ›
Make Sure to Cool Your Kugel
Once it's baked, a kugel needs to cool, otherwise it will fall apart when slicing. Give it at least an hour to cool and set up, then slice and serve it warm or at room temperature.
What do you eat with kugel? ›
The best side dishes to serve with kugel are Jewish brisket, cholent, shakshuka, Caesar salad, chicken soup, gefilte fish, zucchini fritters, applesauce, cucumber salad, pickled beets, tzatziki sauce, potato latkes, roast vegetables, matzo ball soup, coleslaw.
What nationality is kugel? ›
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname for a rotund person, from Middle High German kugel(e), German Kugel 'ball, orb'. The term also denoted a hooded cloak or round-topped mountain, and in some cases the surname may have arisen from either of these senses.
Should I refrigerate kugel? ›
Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate until you're ready to serve. Serve cold, at room temperature, or and reheat covered with aluminum foil in a 350ºF oven until warmed through. Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
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.
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 ...
Is kugel eaten at Passover? ›
"Farfel kugel is a Jewish pudding typically eaten at the Passover table but can be enjoyed any time of year," says recipe creator CRW. "This kugel is a savory one that is a wonderful accompaniment to any meat dish with gravy to help soak up the gravy."
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."
When should I eat kugel? ›
Thanksgiving and Rosh Hashanah simply are not the holidays without homemade kugel. Ever since I was young, kugel has been one of my all time favorite dishes. Even though it's usually considered a meal for holiday occasions, I love to have it all year round.
How long does kugel last in the fridge? ›
Recipe Note
Potato kugel keeps well in the refrigerator for four to five days, as long as it's covered. You can eat a cold slice right out of the fridge, or reheat it in a 350 F oven, uncovered so the top can crisp, until hot. Kugel will also freeze well.
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.)
Do you heat up kugel? ›
Serve hot or warm, freshly baked or reheated. The kugel reheats extremely well in a 350°F oven, uncovered so the top can crisp up additionally.
How do you heat a kugel? ›
Place the Kugel in it's frozen state on a flat surface/tray and allow to completely defrost (thaw). Heat oven to 325° and place Kugel in aluminum tray onto a flat baking sheet onto center rack of oven. Heat for 30 minutes (remove cover for last 10 minutes of heating for a crispy top).
What is the best way to reheat kugel? ›
To reheat noodle kugel in the oven, one should preheat to 300°F (150°C) or for a quicker warm-up, 350°F (175°C). The kugel should be placed in a ceramic or glass baking dish to evenly distribute heat. If it's dry, add a few tablespoons of water or oil over the top, then cover with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
