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| Cooks Compete |

Yerushalmi Kugel

You might have thought you were intimidated to make it, but no one’s too intimidated to eat it. Sweet, savory, crispy, and peppery, Yerushalmi kugel is one of those Shabbos-table classics that has earned its place of honor in regular rotation. The good news is, we’ve narrowed down the best of the best recipes, so you can make your own with confidence.

Authentic Yerushalmi Kugel

Submitted by Atara Weinstein, Bayit Vegan

My mother comes from a Yerushalmi family, and the first time I had “real” kugel was when I visited her sisters, my aunts, when I was in seminary. When I started making my own, my aunt told me to go to the shuk and buy the most antique-looking, unimpressive pot I could find and use that for keeping the kugel on the plata overnight — it would work much better than any high-end kitchen equipment.

Guess what? She was right! Just like Yerushalmim themselves: unassuming on the outside; spicy, sweet, and full of delicious contrasts once you lift the lid.

YIELDS 1 MEDIUM POT

  • 1 pkg thin noodles
  • 1 cup + 3 Tbsp sugar
  • ½ cup oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp salt, plus more for salting the pasta water
  • 1–2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Boil noodles in salted water until very soft.

Meanwhile, in a small pot over a medium-low flame, melt 1 cup sugar with the oil, stirring every few minutes. (Don’t worry if it clumps; the clumps will melt.) When the sugar is golden brown, turn off the flame. Be careful not to touch the mixture, since the sugar will keep cooking in the hot oil.

Drain the noodles. Carefully pour the caramelized sugar into the noodles and mix well. Once slightly cooled, add eggs, salt, and black pepper to your taste — if you like it spicier, use 2 teaspoons.

Pour the mixture into a medium-sized pot lined with parchment paper. Cover loosely and cook over medium-low flame for about half an hour. Transfer the covered pot to a hot plate and leave it there overnight. Turn the pot over, slice, and enjoy with a pickle on the side!

Note: If your hot plate or blech is very hot, put the pot on a folded piece of foil or a low pan so the kugel doesn’t burn. It can also be baked at 350°F (175°C) for an hour, but the results won’t be quite the same.

Excerpted from Mishpacha Magazine. To view full version, SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE or LOG IN.

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