Kugel
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{{Mergefrom|Potato kugel|date=September 2007}}
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[[Image:Kugel.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Kugel made with egg noodles]]
'''Kugel''' ([[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]: קוגל ''kugl'' or קוגעל, pronounced either '''koogel''' with the "oo" like the "oo" in "book or "look", or '''kigel''', as was pronounced in [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]]) is any one of a wide variety of traditional baked [[Jew]]ish [[side dishes]] or [[desserts]]. It is sometimes translated as "[[pudding]]" or "[[casserole]]".
Kugels may be sweet or [[Wiktionary: savory#Adjective|savory]]. The most common types are made from [[egg (food)|egg]] [[noodle]]s (called ''lochshen'' kugels) or [[potato]]es and often contain eggs, but there are recipes in everyday use in modern Jewish kitchens for a great diversity of kugels made with different vegetables, fruit, [[batter (cooking)|batter]]s, [[cheese]], and other flavorings and toppings.
==Germanic origin==
The name of the dish comes from the [[German language|Germanic]] root meaning "ball" or "globe" (see [[:de:Kugel]]), thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round, puffed-up shape of the original dishes (compare to German ''[[Gugelhupf]]'' — a type of ring-shaped cake), however nowadays kugels are often baked in square pans. There is a common misconception linking the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ''k'iygul'' ("as a circle") to the word, but this is a false [[folk etymology]].
==History of kugels==
The first kugels were made from [[bread]] and [[flour]] and were savory rather than sweet. About 800 years ago, their flavor and popularity improved when cooks in [[Germany]] replaced bread mixtures with [[noodle]]s or [[farfel]]. Eventually [[egg (food)|eggs]] were incorporated. The addition of [[cottage cheese]] and [[milk]] created a custard-like consistency which is common in today's dessert dishes.
===Sweet Kugels===
In the 17th century, [[sugar]] was introduced, giving home cooks the option of serving kugel as a sweet side dish or dessert. In [[Poland]], Jewish homemakers sprinkled [[raisin]]s, [[cinnamon]] and sweet farmer's cheese into noodle kugel recipes. [[Hungary|Hungarians]] took the dessert concept further with a hefty helping of [[sugar]] and some [[sour cream]]. Most sweet Kugels are served cold or at room temperature. In the late 19th century, [[Jerusalem]]ites combined [[caramel]]ized sugar and [[black pepper]] in a noodle kugel known as "Jerusalem kugel," which is a commonly served at Shabbat kiddushes and is a popular side dish served with [[cholent]] during Shabbat lunch.
===Savory Kugels===
While less renowned than their sweeter cousins, savory kugels have always existed. Early noodle recipes called for [[onion]]s and [[salt]] and were tasty at [[room temperature]]. Over the centuries, inspired cooks have skipped the noodles, substituting [[potato]]es, [[matzah]], [[carrots]], [[zucchini]], [[spinach]] or [[cheese]] for the base.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
Today many cooks top kugels with [[corn flakes]], [[graham cracker]] crumbs, ground gingersnaps or caramelized sugar. Inspired cooks may layer the dish with sliced [[pineapples]] or apricot [[jam]].
==Kugels on Jewish festivals==
Kugels are a mainstay of festive meals in [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi Jewish]] (Jews of Eastern European descent) homes, particularly on the [[Shabbat|Jewish Sabbath]] and other [[Jewish holiday]]s. Some [[Hasidic Judaism|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]].
==South African slang usage==
Amongst [[South African Jews]], the word "kugel" was used by the elder generation as a scornful term for a young Jewish woman who forsook traditional Jewish values in favor of those of secular high society, becoming overly materialistic and excessively groomed; the kugel being a plain pudding garnished as a delicacy. The women thus described made light of the term and it has since become an amusing rather than derogatory [[slang]] term in [[South African English]], referring to a materialistic young woman. As the term originated from Jewish cuisine, the word "[[bagel]]" has been adapted by some to denote the male counterpart of a "kugel". The literal usage of the term has virtually disappeared amongst the modern generation who instead use the English term "pudding".{{fact|date=February 2008}}
==External links==
*[http://www.kosherrecipe.org/recipes/holiday/89.html ''Yerushalmi Kugel'']
*[http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=93784 Potato and Jerusalem kugel recipes]
*[http://www.projectchickensoup.org/recipes/kugel-cin.html Cinnamon raisin noodle kugel recipe]
*[http://greatgrub.com/recipes/matzoh_kugel Matzo Kugel recipe]
*[http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,raisin_noodle_kugel,FF.html List of kugel recipes]
*[http://www.krissyinboston.com/?p=154 Savory noodle kugel recipe]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/dining/28rosh.html?ex=1285560000&en=5c022b5fc4df4a27&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss "Kugel Unraveled" article]
*[http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/09/noodle-kugel/ ''Noodle Kugel, So Good You'd give up singlehood just for this recipe...'']
[[Category:Desserts]]
[[Category:German loanwords]]
[[Category:Jewish cuisine]]
[[Category:Israeli cuisine]]
[[Category:Noodles]]
[[Category:Yiddish]]
[[Category:Casserole dishes]]
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