Kugel

Kugel(Yiddish:קוגלkugl, pronounced[ˈkʊɡl̩]) is a bakedcasserole, most commonly made fromlokshen(לאָקשן קוגלlokshen kugel) orpotato(קארטאפל קוגלkartufl kugel). It is a traditionalAshkenaziJewishdish, often served onShabbosandJewish holidays.American Jews also serve it forThanksgiving dinner.
The name of the dish comes from theMiddle High Germankugelmeaning 'sphere, globe, ball'; thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round, puffed-up shape of the original dishes (compare toGermanGugelhupf—a type of ring-shaped cake). However, nowadays kugel is often baked in square pans.
Litvaks(Jews fromLithuania, northeasternPolandandnorthern Russia) call the puddingkugel,Galitzianers(Jews from southeastern Poland andwestern Ukraine) call itkigel.
The first kugels were made frombreadandflourand were savory rather than sweet. About 800 years ago,Jewish cooks in Germany replaced bread mixtures withlokshennoodles orfarfel.Eventuallyeggswere incorporated. The addition ofcottage cheeseandmilkcreated a custard-like consistency common in today's dessert dishes. InPoland, Jewish homemakers addedraisins,cinnamonand sweetcurd cheeseto noodle kugel recipes. In the late 19th century,Jerusalemitescombinedcaramelizedsugar andblack pepperin a noodle kugel known as the Jerusalem kugel (Hebrew:קוגל ירושלמי,romanized:kugel yerushalmi), which is a commonly served at Shabbatkiddushesand is a popular side dish served withcholentduring Shabbat lunch.
In Romania, this dish is calledBudinca de macaroane("macaroni pudding") orBaba acolo. It is made with or without cheese, but almost always includes raisins.InTransylvania, especially in theHungarian-speaking regions, a very similar dish is calledVargabéles.
Savory kugel may be based on potatoes,matzah,cabbage,carrots,zucchini,spinach, orcheese.
Romani peoplecall itpirogo. The Romani version is made with raisins, cream cheese, and butter.
Yerushalmi Kugel, (ירושלמי קוגל'Jerusalem kugel'), also known asGalilean kugel, is anIsraeli Jewishkugel dish originating from thelocal Jewishcommunity ofJerusalemin the 1700s.
Noodle kugel(lokshen kugel) is anAshkenazi Jewishcasserole, side dish and popular variety of kugel made withlokshennoodles and either a variety of dairy orpareveingredients.
Potato kugelis a potato-based kugel of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, made with grated or pureedpotatoes,onions,eggs,flourormatzomeal,oil,saltandpepper.
Kugels are a mainstay of festive meals in Ashkenazi Jewish homes, particularly on theJewish Sabbathand otherJewish holidaysor at atish. SomeHasidicJews believe that eating kugel on the Jewish Sabbath brings special spiritual blessings, particularly if that kugel was served on the table of a HasidicRebbe.
While noodle kugel, potato kugel, and other variations are dishes served on Jewish holiday meals, matzo kugel is a common alternative served atPassoverseders which is adjusted to meet Passoverkosherrequirements.
AmongSouth African Jews, the wordkugelwas used by the elder generation as a term for a young Jewish woman who forsook traditional Jewish dress values for those of the ostentatiously wealthy and became overly materialistic and overgroomed, mirroring how the kugel is a plain pudding garnished as a delicacy. The women thus describedmade light of the term, and it has since become an amusing rather than derogatoryslanginSouth African Englishfor a materialistic young woman.