The Substitutions You Should Know For More Allergen-Friendly Kugel

Hanukkah is right around the corner, and along with lighting the menorah, the holiday isn't complete without traditional dishes. Latkes, for one, are practically synonymous with the Jewish holiday. The fried potato pancakes are traditionally served with sour cream and applesauce, though some families may shake up the classic with elegant toppings like smoked salmon and caviar. For dessert, it's traditional to eat sufganiyot, essentially a large, jelly-filled donut. According to Kosher.com, it's no coincidence that these fried food items take center stage at the Hanukkah table; the oil with which the latkes and donuts are fried is commemorative of the oil that burned for eight nights, creating the miracle known as Hanukkah.

However, one beloved (and not fried) Jewish staple is kugel. While kugel is also eaten on other Jewish holidays like Passover, the baked casserole of noodles or shredded potatoes with eggs, onions, and seasonings is still a Hanukkah favorite. While potato kugel can be savory, noodle kugel often leans rich and sweet, thanks to the additions of cottage cheese, sour cream, sugar, and dried fruit. A combination of starch and dairy is always going to be delicious, but those who eat gluten-free or dairy-free unfortunately won't be able to enjoy a classic noodle kugel. Luckily, there are some easy substitutions to make your favorite kugel accessible to the whole Hanukkah table.

Once the brisket is cooked and the latkes are fried, it's time to make the Hanukkah kugel. If you've surveyed your guests and have found out that someone in the crew needs a gluten-free option, you can, of course, opt for a potato kugel instead of the noodle version. But if your heart is set on serving silky noodles, you can easily make a GF version that swaps out the traditional egg noodles for gluten-free pasta. If you can't find flat, ribbon-shaped pasta, it's easy enough to substitute with any shape of your choosing.

If anyone at your party is dairy-free, on the other hand, there's still a way for them to enjoy rich and creamy kugel: The trick is using cashew cream for the richness of sour cream, suggests Real Simple. If you don't want to deal with soaking cashews overnight to make the cream, you can use a store-bought vegan butter or cream cheese instead. You can even make kugel completely vegan by replacing the eggs with silken tofu, per World of Vegan. Ultimately, this Hanukkah essential is highly adaptable. Change up the ingredients to fit your crew's dietary needs — or, since it's easy to make in advance, whip up multiple batches and let everyone take a slice of their favorite.