Classic Lukshen Noodle Kugel Recipes

THE BEST EVER CLASSIC JEWISH NOODLE KUGEL

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the egg noodles, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Place noodles in a large bowl. Mix margarine into the noodles until melted. Stir in the eggs, sugar, applesauce, and vanilla extract. Pour noodle mixture into a 9x13 inch baking pan, then sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover baking pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover the kugel and bake until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.

LUKSHEN KUGEL (SWEET NOODLE PUDDING)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
• Cook noodles until tender, drain.
• Put noodles in a large bowl, add the butter, and stir until butter is melted.
• Beat together eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir in the ricotta and sour cream or cream cheese. Stir into the noodles and add the raisins.
• Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes.
• Serve warm.

RICH AND FRUITY LOKSHEN KUGEL

Steps:

• For the topping: Put the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, and mix them well. Set the topping mixture aside.
• For the kugel: Cook the egg noodles in a 5-quart or similar pot following the package directions. While the noodles are cooking, drain cherries and mandarin oranges in a colander, and rinse them slightly with cool water. When the noodles are done cooking, drain them well, and return them to the pot off the heat. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a 9"x13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or grease it well.
• In a food processor(fitted with a steel blade) or a blender, combine the sour cream, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Process until the mixture is completely smooth, about 1 minute or longer, scraping down the sides of the container once or twice. Pour the mixture over the noodles, then stir the noodles gently with a large spoon so that the cream cheese mixture is evenly distributed. Add the drained cherries and mandarin oranges, along with the pineapple, and gently stir so that the fruit is evenly distributed.
• Transfer the noodle mixture to the prepared baking dish. Smooth the top, pushing down any cherries that have floated to the top. Sprinkle all of the reserved cinnamon-sugar topping over the top of the kugel.
• Bake the uncovered kugel at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until set. Let it rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes before cutting it. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into squares.
• Notes: If the kugel is made ahead, let it cool to room temperature. Then cover the top tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate or freeze the kugel. Defrost it, covered, in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Shortly before serving the kugel, reheat it, covered, in a microwave oven or a 350 degree oven until warmed through.
• Also, try to use the mandarin oranges canned in syrup. They hold their shape better than those canned in juice. For this recipe, all the syrup is drained off. And again, don't use non-fat sour cream or cream cheese.

LOKSHIN KUGEL (NOODLE PUDDING)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• While pasta is cooking, in medium saucepan, cook onions in oil over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until brown and soft.
• In very large mixing bowl, combine pasta, onions, eggs, bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly. Pour into baking dish and sprinkle paprika over the top. Sprinkle with oil, if desired, and bake 50 to 60 minutes, until top is crispy and golden.