Laura's Creamy Vegan Noodle Kugel Recipe • Jewish Food Hero (2024)

FAQs

What does kugel mean in Yiddish? ›

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 ...

Noodle kugel is a popular Jewish dish that's enjoyed year-round, from holiday gatherings to regular family brunches. Pronounced kuh-gull or koo-gull, kugel is a Jewish dish that's been around for hundreds of years. It's a popular option for both special holidays and everyday gatherings alike.

One of many styles of kugel, a baked pudding or casserole in the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, sweet noodle kugel is typically the one seen most often on the table during weekly Shabbat or holidays like Rosh Hashanah or Shavuot.

Jewish festivals

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.

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.

Farshtunkener = Smelly, malodorous person

This insult can apply literally and figuratively.

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.

In western Europe, these puddings are still called schalet, while in eastern Europe, kugel became the generic term for all these puddings. Whether pronounced kugel (by Poles and Lithuanians), koogle (by Germans), or keegal (by Galitzianers), this dish ranks high in the pantheon of Jewish foods.

Potato kugel, on the other hand, can very easily be made with only kosher-for-Passover ingredients (potato, onion, egg, Passover oil, salt, and pepper). Provided that you made the kugel in a kosher-for-Passover kitchen, you have a delicious Passover feast.

Judaism has its dietary restrictions, such as prohibited pork and shellfish. Meat and dairy can't be served at the same meal. All food must be Kosher, which is a process based upon the Torah. Rosh Hashana has some beautiful symbolism around food consumption.

What should we avoid on Rosh Hashanah? ›

Sour foods are usually avoided. Some people avoid nuts during Rosh Hashanah since the numerical value of the Hebrew letters in the word “nu*t” add up to the same number as the word “sin.” During dinner, blessings are said over candles, wine and challah.

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."

“Lokshen” (noodle) kugel is perhaps the most traditional. It blends light and airy egg noodles with moist and creamy dairy ingredients. Hanukkah celebrants can try this recipe for “Noodle Kugel,” courtesy of Taste of Home.

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. It's the perfect side dish for a Hanukkah latke party, adding some richness to the meal.

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.

„Kugel“: Femininum

ball bullet, pellet, shot sphere, globe bulb head thick flank roulette ball sphere shot, bowl, ball ball More translations... ball.

The word treif is a Yiddish word that refers to any food that is deemed unkosher (i.e. forbidden under Jewish law). The word is derived from the Hebrew word treifah (or terefah) which means something that is torn or mangled.

Meshuggeneh: An adjective or noun describing someone who is silly, crazy, or a troublemaker. Now, it's used mostly as a term of endearment. Example: I must be meshuggeneh to think that I can make it from LA to San Diego on time for dinner.