Savory Spinach Kugel ♥ Noodles with Sour Cream & Spinach

A savory noodle casserole (also called a "noodle kugel") made with fresh spinach, flat noodles, sour cream and cheese, extra delicious served hot from the oven. Savory Spinach Kugel is super simple to make and would be easy to scale up to serve a crowd.

Fresh & Seasonal. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Scales from Small Casserole to a Large Baking Dish. Vegetarian.

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What Is Kugel?

Jewish cuisine is not part of my own tradition. In fact, when I first shared this family recipe back in 2005, I called it "Noodles with Sour Cream" – it was only years later that I realized that the savory baked noodle dish is actually a "kugel" and because I make it with fresh spinach, that makes it a "spinach kugel".

What I do know is that cooked noodles baked with spinach, sour cream and cheese turns out really delicious!

So what is "kugel" anyway? The straight word-for-word translation is simple, Kugel = Noodles. In fact, to call something Spinach Noodle Kugel is sort of like stuttering spinach noodle noodle.

But over time, a "kugel" has come to mean a noodle casserole or hot dish that's often sweet, buttery and creamy and some times studded with raisins, apple. Culturally, kugel is a thing of both tradition and wisecracks, something adored and despised.

In contrast, my recipe is savory (no sugar) and compared to other recipes, positively spartan in the dairy department. To my taste, it's super rich so for anyone who's after a lighter spinach kugel that still hews to traditional savory versions, this may well be your recipe.

Ingredients for Spinach Kugel

Like all my recipes, every ingredient serves a purpose. Each one matters. Each one contributes to the overall dish. It's not that an ingredient can't be substituted by something else but when choosing the substitute, it's important to understand why the original ingredient was present in the first place.

For Body – flat ribbons of egg noodle are traditional, "kluski" noodles are narrower, I'm amused by egg noodles with curly edges
For Thickening – whisked eggs
For Creaminess – here, sour cream, but other options are cottage cheese, cream cheese, ricotta and Greek yogurt
For Cheesiness – here, cheddar cheese, but other options are gruyere, smoked gouda, any cheese that melts well and has good flavor
For a Slight Bite – just a touch of dry mustard, a teaspoon or two regular mustard would be a fine substitute
For Nutrition & Color – here, ribbons of fresh spinach, but frozen spinach would work too if thoroughly thawed, chopped and cooked before adding
More Vegetables – none here, but it's easy to imagine adding chopped artichokes, cooked leeks, sautéed mushrooms, sautéed or roasted red peppers, even steamed broccoli or cauliflower florets

Is Savory Spinach Kugel Pareve?

No. To be pareve, it would have to be prepared without dairy.

Is Spinach Kugel Comfort Food?

Yes! It definitely belongs in the recipe boxes of those who appreciate savory comfort food. In fact, I first made Spinach Kugel when I was cooking for a neighbor who needed both calories and cancer-fighting vitamins and minerals. As our parents, and then we ourselves, age, those of us who love to cook (and even those who don't) will be called upon to cook like this on occasion. From experience, I offer assurance that while it may be a special challenge, it's also a special honor.

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Just updated. First published way back in 2005.

RECIPE for SAVORY SPINACH KUGEL (formerly called NOODLES with SOUR CREAM)

Hands-on time: 15 minutes
Time to table: 45 minutes with ramekins, 60 minutes in a casserole
Makes 5 cups

NOODLES
8 ounces (225g) egg noodles
Table salt

EGG MIXTURE
2 large eggs
1 cup (8oz /225g) sour cream
1 cup grated cheddar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

KUGEL
Hot Noodles
About 4 ounces (112g) fresh spinach, stems removed, cut into ribbons
Egg Mixture

PREP Heat the oven to 350F/180C. Spray five one-cup ramekins or a casserole dish with cooking spray. Fill a pan slightly bigger than the ramekins or casserole dish halfway with very hot tap water and place the pan in the oven even as it heats up.

NOODLES Cook the noodles in salted water according to package directions.

EGG MIXTURE While the noodles cook, whisk the eggs, then whisk in the sour cream, then stir in the cheese, salt and dry mustard.

KUGEL Drain the noodles and return the Hot Noodles to the hot pan. Stir in the spinach, stirring gently to let the Hot Noodles slightly cook the spinach. Stir in the Egg Mixture. Transfer the mixture to the ramekins or a casserole dish.

BAKE Place the ramekins/casserole in the water-filled container in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes for the ramekins or 30 minutes for the casserole dish.

ALANNA'S TIPS & KITCHEN NOTES
OPEN QUESTION I have the idea that cooking the ramekins/casserole dish in another dish filled with hot water (that technique is called a "hot water bath") is probably not required. If anyone skips that step, let me know how it goes.

NUTRITION INFORMATION Per Half Cup: 199 Calories; 10g Tot Fat; 6g Sat Fat; 83mg Cholesterol; 166mg Sodium; 18g Carb; 1g Fiber; 1g Sugar; 8g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS Old Points 5 & PointsPlus 5 & SmartPoints 7 & Freestyle 6

TODAY'S VEGETABLE RECIPE INSPIRATION The recipe comes from my cousin Sharon via our family cookbook.

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MORE FAVORITE SPINACH RECIPES

~ Vegetables 101: What Are Bitter Greens? ~

~ Easy Spinach Nests ~
~ How to Make a Spinach Omelet ~
~ Healthy Creamed Spinach ~
~ more spinach recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture

~ Shrimp with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta ~
~ Spinach Salad with Fruity Vinaigrette, Fresh Fruit & Maple-Glazed Pecans ~
~ Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing ~
~ more spinach recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade, my food column

SEASONAL EATING: Mid October ACROSS THE YEARS

Savory Spinach Kugel Spinach with Nutmeg Easy Sweet Pepper Soup Rich Tomato Orange Soup Survivor Soup (Beet, Potato & Cauliflower Soup) Broccoli & Tomato Thai Curry Spicy Carrot Puree with Harissa Pumpkin Bars Sautéed Okra & Garlic Smoked Scallops with Zucchini Ribbons One-Skillet Cauliflower with Cheese Supper Casserole with Pumpkin & Green Chile Cornbread Topping (< great fall supper!) My Favorite Way to Roast Beets (< people love this technique!) Favorite Pumpkin Recipes (< that time of year!) Roasted Whole Red Onions with Sweet Potatoes & Rosemary Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Orange Fresh-Tomato Chili Sweet Pumpkin Seed Crumbles (< great for fall salads)

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