Gluten-free Kugel Recipes Among These 9 Fabulous Kugel Options (2024)

FAQs

Why do Jews eat kugel on Hanukkah? ›

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.

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.

And then I read in The Jewish Kitchen: Recipes and Stories from Around the World of a Hasidic rabbi, Pinchas of Koretz (in Galicia), who claimed that lokshen kugel itself symbolizes Jewish unity, since the noodles are all tangled together and are really inseparable, just like the unified Jewish people.

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.

Only certain types of mammals, birds and fish meeting specific criteria are kosher; the consumption of the flesh of any animals that do not meet these criteria, such as pork, frogs, and shellfish, is forbidden except for locusts, which are the only kosher invertebrate.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

The kugel is the earliest form of German glass Christmas decoration, its predecessor being the “witch ball”, an unsilvered glass sphere hung from windows to ward off evil spirits (supposedly repulsed by round shapes).

What does kugel mean in Yiddish? ›

We use the term for all types of baked casseroles, like potato kugel, noodle kugel, broccoli kugel, and even sweet dishes like cranberry crunch kugel and apple kugel!

"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."

Although it's a sweet dish, kugel is typically served as a side alongside savory meat and vegetable dishes. That said, it makes a very tasty dessert (or even breakfast).

South African slang (usually derogatory). A type of wealthy young (Jewish) woman, characterized as being shallow and materialistic.

Even though kugel is a baked dish, there are multiple reasons for its inclusion on the table on just about every Jewish holiday you can think of. Not only is it often present during Hanukkah celebrations, it is often served on the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and is a staple for Shabbat meals.

Known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is a time when friends and family gather to rejoice, exchange gifts, and enjoy an assortment of traditional Hanukkah foods. From hearty potato latkes to sweet, crispy kugel, read below to learn more about traditional Hanukkah recipes.

The kugel was born in Eastern Europe as a leftover bread pastry with fat and eggs and only eight centuries ago evolved into the lokshen (noodle) kugel we know today. Rice kugels were invented in the 16th century thanks to Ottoman influences, and the popular Polish potato kugel showed up in the nineteenth century.

Throughout the eight days of Hanukkah, Jewish families like mine celebrate by eating latkes (fried potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (fried jelly doughnuts). Notice a theme? Traditional Hanukkah foods are often fried because they're reminders of the oil in the legendary Hanukkah story.