How to Make Kugel for Hanukkah

Unlike other Jewish desserts, the word "kugel" can describe many types of side dishes or desserts that are baked. While there are a large variety of kugels, the best kugel to serve during a food-heavy holiday like Hanukkah is a basic noodle kugel.

Things You'll Need

• 1 large apple
• 1 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 5 tbsps. melted margarine
• 2 tsps. vanilla
• 1/3 cup sliced blanched almonds
• 1/2 pound egg noodles
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• Blender
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/3 cup cottage cheese
• Shallow baking dish
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup currants
• 1 tbsp. orange zest

Instructions

Make Kugel For Hanukkah

1. Soak the currants in a bowl of hot water. Cover them, leave them for five minutes and then drain the bowl.

2. Mix the sour cream, cottage cheese, eggs, 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsps. of sugar, 3 tbsps. margarine, orange zest, vanilla, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and salt until smooth in a blender.

3. Boil salted water in a kettle. Cook the noodles for about five minutes, or until they are tender, and drain well.

4. Peel and grate an apple into a bowl. Add the noodles and toss the mixture with the blended mixture and currants. Make your kugel with dates or figs if you do not like currants.

5. Dump the mixture into a greased, shallow baking dish. Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl and sprinkle over the kugel. Bake the dish in an oven set to 350 degrees F for 40 minutes or until golden.

6. Spice up your kugel by topping it with ground gingersnaps, sliced pineapples or graham cracker crumbs. Jams also add a fruity flavor to a basic kugel.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider using potatoes, Matzah or vegetables instead of noodles in your kugel. Get more ideas for kugel varieties by reading a kugel history on the Jewish Foods website (see Resources box).

• Kugel is often served with brisket during holiday meals like those during Hanukkah. If you don't want to serve meat, choose a light salad with lots of nuts and feta cheese.

• If your noodles aren't cooked completely, they will harden in the oven. Be sure to cook the noodles so they are soft.

• Don't add too many extra items to your kugel. While you may attempt to personalize it, adding more than three extra ingredients will throw the recipe off and create an undesirable taste. Make a simpler kugel to ensure it is a real crowd-pleaser.

Resources

• Visit Jewish Foods for a history of kugel.