Have a Happy Hanukkah With Vegan Noodle Kugel

Kugel is a staple at many Jewish celebrations, and there are many variations—it can be made with sweet potatoes, spinach, or broccoli. Today, we're celebrating Hanukkah with this sweet and filling recipe for noodle kugel.

In order to honor the traditional Jewish concept of tsa'ar ba'alei chayim—which explains that we should show compassion toward animals and avoid causing them harm—we're opting for a vegan version of this classic dish.

What is your favorite vegan holiday dish? Share it with us in the comments below, and be sure to add this kugel to your menu. Enjoy!

The following was adapted from Melody's recipe on VegWeb.com.

Vegan Noodle Kugel
12 oz. wide noodles, such as farfalle
15 oz. silken tofu
3/4 cup agave nectar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp. cardamom powder
1 tsp. ginger powder
1 1/2 cups raisins
4 apples, cut into cubes
1/4 cup applesauce

Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
Cook the noodles according to package directions and drain.
Using an electric mixer or a blender, cream the tofu with the agave nectar, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger until smooth.
Place in a large bowl and add the noodles, raisins, apples, and applesauce. Mix well.
Pour into a large baking pan with high sides and bake for 25 minutes. The top should be nicely browned.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Recent Comments

Rebecca commented:

Dec 22, 2011 12:55 AM

They do make an egg-less egg noodle now. It doesn't have animal products in it but may be produced in plants that process milk (which could make a difference depending on how strict of a vegan you are).
Noelle commented:

Dec 21, 2011 10:42 PM

Made this tonight, and it was a big hit! I also added some vegan sausage crumbles, which was a nice contrast to the "sweet", I thought. Thank you for the recipe!
Andrea commented:

Dec 21, 2011 6:57 PM

Yes, it's a shame there are no eggless wide noodles out there. Another idea that I think would work well would be to boil lasagne noodles and slice them the long way into noodles, then across into pieces. It probably would only take a few minutes.
Ashley-P commented:

Dec 21, 2011 12:48 PM

Barb: Thanks for letting us know! The recipe instructions have been updated. I like your suggestion for using rice noodles instead!
Barb commented:

Dec 20, 2011 6:29 PM

Thanks for posting vegan holiday ideas, but this recipe has some problems. First, it never tells you to add the noodles. Also, it says to use "a wide noodle like farfalle." Noodle Kugel is traditionally made with egg noodles, and eggless wheat pasta is not a good swap for the texture of egg noodles. I suggest using a wide rice noodle instead.

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