Jeffrey says: "My non-Jewish friends find this sweet noodle dish a bit confusing. When should it be eaten? Is it an entrée or a dessert? Don't worry too much about fitting this dish into a box. It's sweet, rich, and cinnamon-y in all the right ways.
"While noodle kugel has a centuries-old provenance, the rich cheese-and-egg version is supremely North American. It's an almost absurd showcasing of abundance, as in the United States and Canada, cheese, milk, and eggs were available on the cheap. We knew we had to include noodle kugel in this book, since it's one of those recipes that defines both of our American Jewish childhoods, especially Sunday brunches and Yom Kippur fast breaking. In our recipe (adapted from one in Jayne Cohen's Jewish Holiday Cooking, the plums add a tartness and sweetness that complement the creamy kugel and give this classic an elegant flourish.
"If planning to serve it for a party or a brunch, prepare the dish up to a day in advance and refrigerate, then bake it right before your guests arrive."
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the noodles just until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl. Add the butter and stir gently to coat the noodles. Set aside.
- In a large bowl with high sides, whisk together the cottage cheese and cream cheese until fluffy. (Alternatively, use a hand mixer.) One at a time, add the milk, sour cream, eggs, maple syrup or sugar, and vanilla, whisking to incorporate after adding each ingredient.
- Add the cottage cheese mixture to the bowl with the egg noodles and gently combine. Pour the mixture into a greased 20 x 30cm baking pan. Cover the pan and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C. Bake the kugel, uncovered, for 45 minutes, then top decoratively with the plums and sprinkle with the cinnamon and brown sugar. Bake for 30 minutes more, until the fruit has softened and released its juices. Remove from the oven and let sit for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Eat the kugel warm or at room temperature.
