Noodling

« Apple Noodle Kugel »

Through the wonders of the A9 search engine, I came across a rather strange recipe while looking for something and was curious enough to look into the dish a bit further and decided to give it a try. I'd always heard of kugel but had never made it or eaten it before. I grew up Catholic so we didn't get much opportunity to try what is regarded as a typically Jewish food. When you first read the recipe you find yourself wondering how egg pasta can be baked into a tasty dessert but then think that you can't go too far wrong with apples, cinnamon and raisins.

There are a few things, having made this dish once, that would make this easy recipe even easier. I bought a package of long Italian egg noodles which, after trying to mix them with the rest of the ingredients, I'd buy the shorter stroganoff sort of egg noodles the next time around. I also didn't cream the cottage cheese with my hand blender or a fork which I think would have made the texture a bit nicer. I would add a few slices of apple to the top as well before adding the brown sugar. The kugel makes the kitchen fill with the scent of apples and cinnamon while baking, too, which is a close second to the smell of bread baking.

It was interesting watching the reactions of my colleagues as they tried this heretofore unheard of and alien dessert. For the most part they thought it tasted good and commented how it didn't taste at all like noodles. Most also thought that either ice cream or vanilla sauce would complement the dish very well. Although you can serve it cold, it really does taste much better when fresh and warm.

Apple Noodle Kugel

Makes: about 12 servings
Time: about 20 minutes prep + bake time

• 12 oz or 350g wide flat egg noodles (short noodles are better)
• 3 unpeeled granny smith apples, shredded
• 1 stick or 113g butter
• 8 oz or 250g small curd cottage cheese, creamed
• 1 cup or 250g sour cream/kermaviili/creme fraîche
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup or 2,25 dl sugar
• 1/2 cup or 1,25 dl golden or regular raisins (or maybe try chopped pineapple)
• mixture of light brown sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle over the top

Cook pasta in rapidly boiling water for about 7 minutes, drain and set aside to cool.

Preheat oven to 350F/175C.

Shred/grate apples into the bottom of a large mixing bowl. Melt butter in a glass measuring cup in the microwave and pour in with the apples. Stir in cheese, sour cream, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and fruit. Mix well and stir in noodles with a big spoon, coating the noodles well and evenly distributing the ingredients.

Pour into large casserole or shallow baking pan, sprinkle top with brown sugar and cinnamon mixture and bake for about an hour or so until the top is browned. Serve warm with ice cream or vanilla sauce.