8 hours ago, cakewalk said:Then I have to ask: what makes you classify something as a kugel? And if it's not a kugel, then what would you call it? I'm not totally sure how I would define a kugel, but I know it when I see it!
Well, it's not something I've given much thought to. I think that to be a kugel in my eyes, it must be:
- Made of noodles / flat pasta - not extruded pasta (Or potatoes for potato kugel).
- Bound with eggs, so that it is cohesive.
- Have an "Ashkenazi flavor profile" - For a savory kugel that will mean ingredients like black pepper, onion, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, maybe sour cream or farmer cheese. For a sweet kugel, cinnamon, nuts, dried fruits, apples, sour cream or farmer cheese.
- Be mostly brown.
And if it's not a kugel, I'd probably call it a pasta casserole.