Kugel (KUH-ghel), a savory baked pudding, is another dish traditional among Jews from Eastern Europe. There are many kinds of kugel, including potato, sweet potato, carrot or noodle. Some are so sweet I would serve them only for dessert. This one includes white and sweet potatoes, carrots, and raisins for a touch of natural sweetness.
Fast Fact: Botanically speaking, most of the tubers we call yams are actually sweet potatoes.
Quick Tip: Soaking the raisins in some extra orange juice brings out their sweetness

serves 8
You might need to buy:
  • orange-fleshed sweet potatoes or yams
  • medium carrot
  • golden raisins
  • large eggs
  • orange juice
  • ground cinnamon
  • freshly grated nutmeg
  • salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • melted butter
  • dry bread crumbs or matzo meal

This side dish makes four servings; it’s perfect to keep in your fridge to add to stir-fries or pasta dishes. Use as many different mushrooms as you can find, especially the healthier varieties like shiitake, enoki and oyster mushrooms. The dried porcini or cepes really add a lot of flavor. You’ll find them in little packages near the produce stands.

serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • herb and spice blend
  • organic baby spinach leaves

Nutrition information per serving: protein: 1.73 g; fat: 3.78 g; carbohydrate: 24.1 g; fiber: 0; sodium: 295 mg; cholesterol: 0; calories: 136.

ready in about 45 minutes
You might need to buy:
  • vegetable oil
  • ground red pepper
  • salt
  • ground cumin