During a recent cooking class I was teaching, several students showed an interest in Jewish foods that could be served during Chanukah, aside from the traditional potato latkes.
Sufganiyot, or jelly doughnuts, are another popular choice at this time of year, but I thought of something else. As far back as I can remember, old-fashioned kugel — one of the basic foods in Jewish cuisine — has been served at our family meals to celebrate the holiday.
In Germany, the name kugel has become synonymous with pudding, and the two words in Europe often are interchangeable. Most kugel recipes are based on noodles, rice or potatoes, and kugel can be served as a side dish, main course or dessert, hot or cold.
While the crisp Classic Potato Kugel is a hearty accompaniment for brisket, pot roast or roasted chicken, my personal favorite is a Noodle Fruit Kugel, accented with apples and raisins.
Most kugel recipes can be prepared in advance and refrigerated until ready to bake and serve.
And don’t worry, just because kugel is on the menu this Chanukah doesn’t mean your family has to pass on those old-fashioned potato latkes. It’s easy to convert the potato kugel batter into latkes simply by spooning some of the mixture into a nonstick skillet and frying them until golden brown.
CLASSIC POTATO KUGEL
This recipe also can be used to make Classic Latkes (see below).
1/4 cup olive oil
2 eggs
2 cups peeled, grated potatoes, well-drained and tightly packed (preferably russet)
1 small onion, grated
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 400 F.
Brush bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons olive oil and set aside.
Beat eggs in a large bowl until fluffy. Add grated potatoes, onion, remaining olive oil, flour, baking powder and salt and pepper. Spoon the potato mixture into prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake 30 to 45 minutes longer, until golden brown and crisp.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
CLASSIC LATKES
Prepare potato mixture.
Heat 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Drop a tablespoon of the potato mixture into the skillet, then flatten with the back of a spoon for thin latkes. Brown on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes, depending on how hot the burner under the frying pan is. Drain on paper towels.
Makes about 24 latkes.
NOODLE FRUIT KUGEL
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup Concord grape wine or apple juice
1 (12-ounce) package flat egg noodles
1/4 pound unsalted butter
2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
4 eggs, well beaten
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon cinnamon-sugar or more to taste (optional)
Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Brush a 9-by-12-inch baking dish with olive oil and set aside.
In a small bowl, soak raisins in wine for 1 hour or overnight, drain before using.
Boil the noodles until tender, drain into a large bowl. Combine noodles, butter, apples and raisins and mix well. Add eggs and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, if desired.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until top is brown and crisp. Cut into squares. Serve hot or cold.
Makes about 10 to 12 servings.
MIDDLE EASTERN RICE KUGEL
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter
Grated peel of 1 orange
Grated peel of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
3 cups cooked rice
1/2 cups raisins
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Brush bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch square baking dish with olive oil and set aside.
Beat together sugar, butter, orange and lemon peel, cinnamon and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well-blended. Stir in rice and raisins and mix thoroughly.
Pour into prepared baking dish and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
KUGEL SOUFFLE
2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
1/4 pound flat egg noodles
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Pinch of nutmeg
4 eggs, separated
1/4 cup minced parsley
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Brush an 8- or 9-inch round mold with melted butter. Set aside.
Cook noodles in salted boiling water until tender. Drain and rinse in cold water. Set aside.
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in saucepan. Add flour and whisk until blended. Add warm milk all at once, stirring vigorously with wire whisk. Season to taste, with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Transfer mixture to large bowl and cool slightly.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form and set aside. Beat yolks in separate bowl until foamy and add to cooled butter mixture. Stir in noodles. Carefully fold in stiffly beaten egg whites, then parsley. Spoon the mixture into prepared mold and place mold in a shallow baking pan partially filled with hot water.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until set. Unmold kugel onto a large platter.
Makes about 8 servings.
Judy Zeidler is a food consultant, cooking teacher and author of 10 cookbooks, including “Italy Cooks” (Mostarda Press, 2011). Her website is judyzeidler.com.
