Sweet Noodle Kugel — A Jewish Holiday Classic

Sweet noodle kugel, the Jewish classic, is made dairy free, but it’s just as luscious as the original.

Noodle kugel, a staple Eastern European Jewish comfort food, is a cross between a side dish and a dessert — a rich, substantial one at that. It’s often served at holidays and is especially appropriate for the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), when sweet foods are favored.

Basically, a kugel is simply a casserole, and in the Jewish tradition, one that’s built around a specific food, like this one featuring noodles. Another famous one is potato kugel, and we’ve got a recipe for that one, too.Here’s more on the origins of noodle kugel, for you food history nerds! And there’s more on its history here.

The traditional recipe for noodle kugel features egg noodles bathed in lots of dairy (in the form of  cottage cheese, cream cheese, farmer’s cheese, or a combination). Often, eggs and lots of butter are part of the mix, adding up to a crescendo of cholesterol.

This vegan version proves that it doesn’t have to be that way. It tastes just as decadent, with less fat and no cholesterol. Your bubbe might think it’s weird to make lokschen kugel with silken tofu, but once she tastes it, she’ll kvell.

Yield: 8 to 10

Sweet Noodle Kugel

Print

Sweet noodle kugel, the Jewish classic, is made dairy free, but it’s just as luscious as the original. 

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

• 12 ounces egg-free ribbon-style noodles (see note)
• 12.3-ounce container firm or extra-firm silken tofu
• 8-ounce container vegan cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup lightly drained crushed pineapple
• 2/3 cup dark or golden raisins
• 1 medium apple or pear, peeled, cored, and finely diced
• 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted
• 2/3 cup natural granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F.
2. Cook the noodles according to package directions, then drain.
3. In a large mixing bowl, mash the tofu and cream cheese together until finely crumbled.
4. Stir in the cooked noodles and all the remaining ingredients. Transfer the mixture to an oiled, shallow round or rectangular 2-quart casserole dish. 
5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top begins to turn golden. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. This is also good served at room temperature.

Notes

This is traditionally made with wide egg noodles, but look for egg-free ribbon noodles, which really do exist! Others to consider are quinoa ribbons or rombi pasta. For a gluten-free option, try wide rice noodles, the kind used in Thai cuisine. Look for these in the Asian foods section of well-stocked supermarkets.

See more Jewish New Year recipes and menus

If you like this veganized kugel recipe, you might also enjoy …

Vegan Potato Kugel

See more Jewish vegan recipes and other ways to veganize classic recipes.