Click Here for GG's Matzo Farfel Kugel Recipe - Yay Kosher (2024)

FAQs

Is farfel kosher for Passover? ›

Farfel is an Ashkenazi Jewish egg pasta similar to spaetzle or nokedli, and sometimes referred to as "egg barley." This may sound confusing, but pasta isn't kosher for Passover, so this recipe for matzo farfel, which is simply crushed up matzo crackers, takes its place.

Yes, matzo farfel kugel freezes well.

"Farfel kugel is a Jewish pudding typically eaten at the Passover table but can be enjoyed any time of year," says recipe creator CRW. "This kugel is a savory one that is a wonderful accompaniment to any meat dish with gravy to help soak up the gravy."

Matzo farfel is simply crumbled matzo. It's not finely ground, but closer to the size of coarsely crushed crackers. While there are quite a few uses for matzo, the bigger size of matzo farfel makes it particularly ideal for bready stuffings, crunchy toppings, and sweet or savory kugels.

While matzo meal's texture is similar to breadcrumbs, farfel is essentially a roughly crumbled cracker. It's fantastic if you're looking to make a crunchy topping, like for a kugel. Matzo cake meal is even more finely ground than matzo meal.

To store leftover kugel, allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Keep the kugel in its pan, and wrap it in storage wrap, or place slices of noodle kugel in an airtight container. Kugel can last in the fridge for up to three days.

Can Kugel Be Frozen? Noodle kugel can be frozen for up to 1 month. Allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then it can be eaten cold or you can warm it up in the oven.

Do You Eat Noodle Kugel Hot or Cold? While noodle kugel should be removed from the oven and cooled for at least 30 minutes after baking, it can be eaten at any temperature. Eaten warm, when just set, noodle kugel's texture is more akin to a baked mac and cheese (the extra-crunchy noodles on top might be the best part.)

The tradition goes back to the 13th century, when custom dictated a prohibition against wheat, barley, oats, rice, rye and spelt, Rabbi Amy Levin said on NPR in 2016.

As Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz once said, “Jews eat lots of lokshen on Shabbat because noodles are symbolic of the unity of the people of Israel: They are so tangled that they can never be separated.” Noodle kugel may not actually be eaten by all Jews, but it has clearly reached far beyond mere Ashkenazi cuisine.

What does "kugel" mean in Yiddish? ›

The name of the dish comes from the Yiddish word kugel meaning 'sphere, globe, ball'; thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round balls of dough that were placed in the center of the cholent, a traditional Shabbat stew, to cook alongside it and absorb its flavors for its later use as a side dish ...

B'gan Non-dairy Kosher for Passover Coffee Creamer is the perfect way to add a dairy-free creamy taste. Transform your everyday coffee, cakes and sides into something extraordinary.

Farfel was once a popular side dish in Jewish Ashkenazi cuisine and was served simply seasoned alongside meat or poultry. The word farfel is Yiddish. Farfel is sometimes called egg barley, though it contains no barley, and doesn't much look like it, either.

For this reason, flavored coffee requires a hechsher for year-round use and should be avoided on Passover unless bearing a special Passover certification.

For this reason virtually all whiskey (including scotch and bourbon) is essentially not kosher for Passover. A notable exception is whisky made from sorghum stalks, which (as of 2024) the OU certifies as kosher for passover (and kitniyot free, since it does not contain the sorghum seeds).