Grandma Rose’s Jewish Noodle Kugel (Luchen Kugel)

Grandma Rose’s Jewish Noodle Kugel is a sweet “baked pudding” casserole made with lots of eggs, noodles, sweet cheese and raisins.

The base of a Jewish Noodle Kugel is similar to soufflé and custard with egg noodles. Think of kugel as a sweet egg noodle casserole. My Grandma Rose served kugel at every meal at her home. She would alternate between a noodle kugel and a potato kugel.

What is Kugel?

• Kugel is a sweet “baked pudding” casserole. Eggs are whipped up with cottage cheese, sour cream and sugar and combined with egg noodles.
• Traditionally an Ashkenazi dish, Jewish Noodle Kugel is loved by everyone lucky enough to taste this delicacy.
• This traditional Jewish side dish is typically served during Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Chabad says that kugel resembles manna from heaven, which nourished the Jews

Pro Tip: Noodle Kugel is fantastic to bring to office parties and pot luck. People go crazy for this stuff!

Another popular office recipe pleaser is my Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake, which is to die for…..really!

 

This perfect Jewish Noodle Kugel recipe was given to me by my Grandma Rose and I have made it the same way for over 50 years.

Cast of Ingredients for Jewish Noodle Kugel

• Wide Noodles
• Eggs
• Cinnamon and Sugar
• Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream
• Golden Raisins or Black Raisins 

For years I worked as a legal secretary and would bring Noodle Kugel to the office for parties, events and holidays. For those events, I liked to change up the dried fruit and noodles so that I was essentially bringing a new dish each time, but one I knew everyone loved. 

 

While I use golden raisins or black raisins the majority of the time, I sometimes change the dried fruit when making Noodle Kugel to bring to a party or event. Like Grandma Rose’s Jewish Noodle Kugel recipe, the amount of ingredients always remain the same.

Kugel Fruit Options

• Diced Mix Fruit
• Fruit Cake Fruit
• Craisins Dried Cranberries
• Diced Apples
• Diced Pineapples
• Sun Dried Fruit Medley is really nice to use. It adds color and the combination of the dried fruit is super tasty.

Whichever dried fruit you choose to use, the first thing is to soak the fruit/raisins in fresh water. The raisins will plump and be nice in the kugel as opposed to chewy and hard from baking.

Pro Tip: Don’t use candied fruit (you know, the kind you would use for a Christmas Holiday Fruitcake) when making kugel. It will be way too sweet.

 

The noodles should be al dente. The wide egg noodles take about 5 minutes. Take a look at the package directions and cook them for a minute less than the recommended time. They will finish baking in the oven. 

Wide noodles is the standard when making Jewish Noodle Kugel. However, I often change the type of pasta I use. I have used Jewish Stars, Christmas Trees, spaghetti noodles, Bunnies, Flags and the list goes on

Macaroni and Noodle Options

• Spaghetti Noodles are always fun to use.
• Star of David/Jewish Star Pasta
• Christmas Tree Pasta – I like to use this for office holiday parties. When I do, I use the tree pasta with cranberries, making it very festive
• Gingerbread Man Shaped Macaroni
• Bunny Shaped Pasta

There are so many shapes to use. While kugel is a Jewish cuisine, everyone loves a good kugel and I have a tendency to bring it to potlucks and holiday parties and I change the noodles and colors to fit the occasion. I particularly like to use spaghetti noodles and cook Grandma Rose’s Jewish Noodle Kugel in a 9 Inch Springform Pan ! It is really pretty when you cut into the kugel.

 

In a Large Mixing Bowl, crack open the eggs and beat them well. I use a Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer in order to make a fluffy mixture.

For all you who love to beat your eggs hard in my cheesecake recipe, which you know you shouldn’t, here is your chance!! Hahahahaha.

Lower Carb Option for Noodle Kugel

Diabetics and those watching their carbohydrate and sugar intake, you could make a more diabetic friendly option.

• Use Miracle Noodles. instead of pasta
• Use a Sugar Substitute in place of white sugar
• Swap the raisins out for chunks of peeled zucchini

Pro Tip: Cottage cheese still has some carbs, so please check the nutrition and eat according to your personal requirements.

 

Make sure to blend the filling ingredients really well so that you will get a custard like finish.

Can Kugel be Made in Instant Pot

• Yes, it sure can. It is quite simple too!
• For using the Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker, check out this delicious Instant Pot Jewish Noodle Kugel (Luchen Kugel) recipe!

 

You will want a nice and smooth consistency.

My Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer comes in very handy.

 

When rinsing the cooked noodles, use cool water, which will stop the cooking process.

 

Gently fold the noodled into the cottage cheese mixture and combine well.

Yummy, it is looking delicious already. There is another noodles and cheese recipe called Lokshen Mit Kaese [Noodles & Cheese], which most Jewish kids are brought up on. To this day, it is one of my favorite comfort meals for lunch.

 

Drain the raisins and fold them into the noodle mixture. I use this  Glass Measuring Cup to soak the fruit. If using fresh diced apples or pineapple, no need to soak.

Pro Tip: For an interesting twist, soak the raisins (or whichever dry fruit you are using) in some brandy instead of water.

There are other fruit variations too. Using canned and fresh fruit gives the Instant Pot Jewish Noodle Kugel a different texture. Dried fruit has a chew to it, but fresh and canned fruit will generally blend in with the cheese mixture. It kinds of reminds me a fruit blintz.

Fresh and Canned Fruit Options

• Crushed Pineapple
• Diced Granny Smith Apples are super nice
• Fresh or Canned Apricot

Pro Tip: Fresh and canned fruit may not be as sweet and the sweetness (sugar) may need to be adjusted.

 

The noodle mixture will be very wet. As it cooks, the eggs will rise making a nice noodle pudding.

 

A glass baking dish works well for this recipe. Place the butter into the 13 x 9 inch Baking Dish and place in the oven to melt.

 

Pour the mixture into the 13 x 9 inch Baking Dish and it is ready for the oven. If you are using the topping, add it now, otherwise, it is time to bake.

I generally do not use the topping, but I know some people love it. If you don’t plan on using the topping, add the cinnamon to the wet mixture.

 

Grandma Rose’s Jewish Noodle Kugel can be served hot, warm, room temperature or cold. My favorite way is room temperature.

This Grandma Rose’s Jewish Noodle Kugel is a perfect dish to bring to a barbecue as it can be served, hot, warm or cold. Nice for buffets too! People eat kugel as a side dish, snack or dessert.

 

Grandma Rose would be so proud to know that so many people have made her famous Jewish Noodle Kugel.

More Jewish Recipes to Make:

• My Pressure Cooker Friday Night Brisket
• Instant Pot Matzo Brei [Jewish French Toast] Passover
• Instant Pot Jewish Sweet and Sour Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
• Air Fryer Traditional Chanukkah Latkes

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

• Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
• Culina Stackable (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
• Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
• Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk – a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
• Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
• Salbree Steamer Basket
• 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
• Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer
• Pyrex Glass Baking Dish

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