From choosing the potatoes, to the way the potatoes are processed…making a great kugel is simple, but the details matter.
The perfect potato kugel means different things to different people. But for a real traditional kugel you want it creamy inside and crispy in the outside. I’ve tried every trick out there – heating up the oil, mixing the eggs first in the food processor and found it all to taste the same at the end. What does make a huge difference is the kind of potatoes you use and the grate of the potatoes. For crispier potatoes bake it in a glass baking pans (such a pyrex) or in pot thats oven proof (uncovered).
Choosing Your Potatoes
For a potato kugel with the creamiest texture, you need to use golden potatoes. Watch out for potatoes that are green tinged?using them results in a kugel with a bitter aftertaste. (Green-tinged potatoes are usually a result of exposure to light, which increases alkaloid levels. This is generally not harmful in low amounts, though it can make the potatoes taste bitter.) Peel away all the green skin and surface layers of the potatoes, but if the greening is very deep the potato will taste noticeably bitter and should be discarded. You can quickly look into the bag of potatoes before you buy them. You may also want to smell the potatoes; they shouldn’t smell rotten. If you come across a potato in the supermarket that looks fine but smells wrong, don’t purchase it.
Once you bring your potatoes home, keep them out of the refrigerator to keep their natural starches from turning to sugar, or you’ll be left with a sweet, gritty potato.
If you don’t come across golden potatoes, you can use starchier potatoes such as Idaho or Russet, however, then you’ll need to add another egg, or a little more oil to achieve that creamier texture.
Choosing Your Grater/Processor
While some prefer the old-fashioned cross-woven steel wires potato grater, I find that it produces a slightly piecey texture, and rather use a grater that has very small holes that produce a fine grate like the smaller holes on the sides of a grater like this one. When using a food processor (highly recommended), I prefer the Braun. Use the “kugel blade” on number 8 speed. When using a processor such as a Magimix with no kugel blade, simply grate half the potatoes, switch to the blade, and put back on the machine for a few seconds. Repeat with the remaining half.
If you are using Idaho Potatoes instead of Golden Potatoes add 1 more egg to the mixture.
- 5 pounds golden potatoes (such as Yukon Gold)
- 1 large yellow onion
- 7 extra large eggs (or 8 large eggs)
- ½ cup oil
- 1 Tbsp salt
- dash of black pepper
- Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Peel potatoes and onion.
- In a food processor, process the potatoes and onion on medium speed. (8 on the Braun). (If the speed is too slow, the kugel is too stringy and vice versa if it’s too fast.)
- Place the potato mixture in a large bowl. Mix in the eggs and oil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Pour potato kugel mixture into pans. (I like to use 3 loaf pans or 9- x 6- inch pans, so you get more end pieces.)
- Bake for 1½- 2 hours.
Need links to our other kugel posts?
And potato kugels first cousin – Potato Latkes
Gitty s says
Btw to make it mess free- i use the slotted plastic bottom blade (on lowest #)1st to mix eggs, oil and spices. Then switch to the top kugel blade, add the potatoes, and then once again switch to the plastic slotted bottom blade to mix it (on lowest#). Then i just pour it into the tin pan. No additional bowls or dirty hands.
Miriam j says
I use the s blade to blend the eggs, onions and spices and add the potatoes with the kugel blade. Only problem is that my braun doesn’t hold the full 5 lbs of potatoes so i need to transfer to a bowl. I believe the new versions do hold the 5 lbs.
Sima says
I use a blender and get a creamy kugel! They can’t get enough!
Linda says
I have a Kitchenaid with a food processor attachment. No one on the web has any clue if it is even possible to make a kugel using this attachment, Anyway, when you would put this in a crockpot if you wanted it for Shabbat dinner? It seems like midnight the night before is the equivalent to overnight and noon.
GF says
My mother makes potato kugel using the meat grinder attachment on her kitchen aid!
Nechama says
The reason for adding the eggs at the beginning is to prevent the potatoes from turning brown.
Sara says
What size aluminum pan does it make?
TL says
What is a kugel blade
Esther Zeidman says
I just bought the braun from your link. How do I know what the kugel blade is. So I need to buy it separately? Does the linked Braun hold all 5 pounds of potatoes?
Leah Schapira says
The kugel blade is the grating insert. Not the fine shredding insert. On the amazon listing you can see all the blades. And yes you can fit more than 5lb of potatoes. It can fit around 7lb of potatoes.