Spinach Artichoke Kugel
This savory baked side dish is so creamy and cheesy! Your family will beg for this spinach artichoke matzo kugel at every Passover seder.
Hey guys! How was your weekend? It sure was pretty here in the Philly area. Warm, bright and breezy!
Things started off with a bang, but sadly, the weekend ended on a low note when I came down with (yet another) bug and spent a day and a half sweating out a fever. I thought the arrival of spring would mean an end to battling illnesses, but evidently not so. 🙁
So, for today’s recipe, I’m re-posting an old favorite. Hopefully you’ll forgive me when you see how yummy it is! Seriously, so good. So good you’ll forget you’re eating matzo.
There is so much history and theology surrounding Passover, from plagues and persecution to sacrificial lambs and hopes for the return of a long-lost prophet. Truthfully, I’m nothing but a lowly shikse, who has had the pleasure of a bird’s eye view into her in-laws’ longstanding traditions, so I am not even going to attempt to give a true explanation, for fear that it would be woefully inadequate.
From what I have seen over the last ten years of being a part of a wonderfully close-knit and loving family, is that this holiday/week-long observance of faith, history, and devotion to God seems to be one of the most important events on the Jewish calendar. And, from a food-nerd’s perspective, it mainly seems to be focused around NOT eating any leavened bread, and in particular, eating LOTS of matzo.
When I first started participating in my husband’s family’s Seder dinners, I didn’t quite get the second part of that. I was all, “How come you don’t just have an omelette for breakfast, instead of subbing matzo for a bagel? Why not just eat a salad for lunch, instead of pb&j on matzo? Can’t you just eat potatoes with your dinner, instead of replacing noodles with matzo kugel?” And, I’m sorry if this offends, but a cake made with matzo meal is just not the same…
I don’t know if anyone out there will disagree, but to me and my hubs, matzo just doesn’t hold a candle to actual bread products. And I think that right there, is the main thing about Passover. Giving up those deliciously satisfying bagels and cakes and cookies for an entire week, and subsisting on dry, flavorless crackers, is an act of devotion to God, and of respect to one’s ancestors. I have a lot of respect for that. I cannot, however, show up at a family dinner bearing a dish that is not delicious. I’m sorry, I’m just not wired like that.
Like I had said, matzoh is extremely dry and has very little flavor. Imagine a saltine without the salt. It takes a lot to make it palatable enough that you’d want to eat a big ol’ hunk of it in casserole form.
I like to rely on copious amounts of veg and dairy products.
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t drool over hot spinach and artichoke dip, so this kugel is made in it’s image…
If you are bringing it to your Bubbe-in-law’s seder, it can be made ahead! Just ask if you can warm it in her oven when you get to her house.
You will only need a little square of this side dish, because it is sooo super satisfying and filling…
…and so creamy-cheesy-delish you will forget that you are giving anything up!
Hope you are all healthy and happy, and that your week is off to a terrific start. I’ll see you again later in the week, with an Easter treat!
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Spinach Artichoke Kugel
Ingredients
- 5 matzos,, broken into pieces
- 1 1/2 cups (354.88 ml) half & half
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) cream cheese,, softened
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) sour cream
- 1 cup (113 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 egg, (large)
- 10 ounces (283.5 g) thawed frozen chopped spinach,, drained and squeezed of excess liquid
- 10 ounces (283.5 g) thawed frozen artichoke hearts
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup (50 g) freshly grated parmesan
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and mist a 9x13" oven-safe baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Soak the matzo in half & half for about an hour, or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the matzos have softened.
- In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, cheese, and egg.
- Fold in the spinach and artichokes, and season with salt, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper.
- Add in the softened matzo, discarding any excess liquid, and stir to combine.
- Pour into the prepared dish, and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden around the edges and nearly set in the middle.
- Top with freshly grated parmesan.
I just found this recipe while looking for a new kugel recipe to make for my grandson’s Bris. I will definitely try this next Passover as written. My question is: Do you think I can substitute a 12 ounce bag of noodles rather than the matzos if I want a non-Passover version?
Absolutely! Hope you enjoy!
I will make this as soon as I get back from the store. I don’t have artichokes or cream cheese. I’ll let you know how it comes out Thankyou for the resipe.
My pleasure hope you enjoy!
Can I mix it all together the night before and bake it the next day?
I think that would work! Wrap it up with foil and pop it in the fridge. Then allow it to come to room temp before it goes into the oven. Good luck!
This is so going on my Passover table this year!! Sounds amazing and can’t wait to taste it. I couldn’t find frozen artichoke hearts…can I use canned (not marinated) instead? I use the canned ones to make my spinach/artichoke dip, so I am thinking they will work for this too. I would just drain and gently squeeze out the liquid and then weigh to be sure I have 10 ounces.
That would be fine Elena. Good luck and I hope you enjoy!
elena, see my comment above. My research said that canned and frozen are totally different in texture. so try to find the frozen if you can. I finally found bird’s eye in a box in the frozen section. But I had to ASK the young man in the aisle.
What if I can’t find frozen artichoke hearts?!! Can I use canned? What do I do?
Canned should be fine.
thanks for your reply. turns out I was able to find frozen. The reason I went on the hunt was because I researched the difference between canned and frozen and there’s quite a difference. According to the test that was done, the canned has a “toothiness” to it and isn’t anything like the frozen which is similar to steamed fresh artichokes. So my advice, based on this information, is that you CAN’T substitute canned. It’s in the oven now and I can tell you from dipping matzo in the bowl to scrape the sides clean, this is going to be freaking delish!
I would not say that you CAN’T, by any means. Frozen is preferable but they are not always available, so in a pinch canned would be the next best option.
1. Can this be made ahead and frozen?
2. Do you chop the artichokes?
Thanks
I think you’d be taking a chance on freezing it; sometimes cream cheese can become grainy after it’s been frozen & thawed. It’s up to you if you want to chop the artichoke hearts- if you like bigger chunks then no. If you want smaller bits then yes. Good luck!
I made this for my boyfriend last Passover. I’m not Jewish and don’t love cooking but wanted to find some recipes I thought I could handle to surprise him. Well, he absolutely loved it, likes it better than the kugel his mom serves at every holiday. He asks me to make it all the time so just wanted to say – thank you very much! We have a new holiday tradition now!
Haha that’s great! I’m so happy you and your boyfriend enjoy this recipe, and it’s great that it’s become a tradition! Thanks so much for sharing!
Made this for Passover and received rave reviews! Everyone loved this kugel. I will definitely be making this again! It was so easy to make also.
So glad you and your loved ones enjoyed, Renee! Thanks so much for the positive feedback!
Mmm. I’m not Jewish and have never been to a seder but I did see some adorable Jewish ladies on a cooking show that made some kind of hybrid kugel (I think they had been to a place that makes ramen and so made a kugel inspired dish with ramen and pastrami). Anyway, I’ve wanted to make kugel since but am a little intimidated by all the varieties. Sweet or savory? Noodle or potato? I’m not entirely clear what classifies as a kugel but I’m adding this to a fun collection to try and this just might be the first one.
Would have loved to have seen that show… sounds fun! Good luck and I hope you enjoy!
If I didn’t want to use matzoh for this what would you recommend? Some kind of noodle? How would that change the recipe?? Thanks!
Hey Jessica! You could use egg noodles but then it wouldn’t be kosher for Passover. If that’s not important to you, then any kind of noodle would work. Good luck and enjoy!
I made this for Passover last year, and everyone loved it. I am wondering how it would work with gluten-free matzah, which are more delicate. I’m thinking I won’t soak them, they’l hopefully absorb the liquid as they cook but won’t utterly disintegrate?
Sounds like a good idea! I haven’t really worked much with gluten-free matzoh but I would imagine it probably has a more delicate texture, so that sounds like a good move!
AH-MAY-ZING! I made this dish for my mom’s birthday dinner,everyone had seconds, thirds, and fought for the last piece! I changed the recipe a bit and made it dairy and gluten and everyone is rubbing their bellies completely happy! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
That’s awesome Gladine! I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed; thanks so much for the awesome feedback!
This looks so good! I love spinach and cheese! I will have to give this a try!
The cheesier the better, lol! Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Kloe! Hope you’re having a fun week 😉
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that you’re not feeling well sweetie and hope you get better soon. I have never had kugel before but I love anything with spinach, artichoke and cheese – it sounds fantastic!
Oh, ya, spinach artichoke and cheese FTW! I love that I can eat it as part of my meal, somehow I feel less guilty that way ;P Thanks so much for the well-wishes, Kelly! <3
I have never had kugel before, but this looks super yummy! I hope you start feeling better soon!
Thanks Laura! I’m doing better now. Just have to get caught up on everything I missed! Noodle kugels are reeeeaaaaalllly good, but usually matzo kugels are pretty terrible, IMHO! This one’s great though- so creamy and cheesy! I love it. Thanks so much for the sweet comment! <3
Wow this looks so tasty and interesting! I’ve never tried it before but definitely want to give this recipe a go! Hope you feel better soon 🙂
I’m so glad you like it, Lilli! It’s definitely a family favorite for us. If you like Spinach Artichoke Dip, you’ll love this side dish! Thanks so much for reading and for the sweet comment 🙂
This looks delicious, Allie! Never tried it before, definitely need to soon! Hope you feel better, soon! 🙂
Thanks Jess, I’m getting there, lol! 😀
Get better soon! Everything gets harder when you’re sick … no fun. I’ve only had matzo once or twice and boy does it look good here! Spinach and artichoke dip has been my favorite dip for forever. That little square sounds absolutely amazing right now – cream, cheese, and artichokes, like, how could you not like that?!
Thanks, Mary Frances! Matzo by itself is pretty blah, but when it’s got lots of cheese and artichokes, it’s so good I could make a meal out of it! Thanks so much for the sweet comment 😉
Sorry to hear you weren’t feeling good! That stinks. I know. I just got over a horrible sore throat and 2 kiddos with the fever and bellyache. No fun! But we’re back to good health. Thank God for that!
I’d love to try this. I’m all about spinach and artichoke combos.
Have a beautiful week Allie!
Ugh, what is this bug, anyway? So many people I know have come down with it. It started as a fever/cold with my son, and then turned into the bellyache thing. I hope it doesn’t happen that way for me. These kids and the germs that they bring home! Glad you’re doing better, hopefully it won’t be much longer for me 😉
I am so sorry you are sick! Boo… But this recipe! Oh my goodness it sounds AMAZING! I love anything spinach and artichoke so yum! And I think re-posting a recipe as delicious as this sounds is 100% acceptable 🙂
Thank you Ally! Spinach and artichoke totally has my heart, especially when there’s lots of cheese involved too 😀
Boooo I hope you feel better dear. I’m not familiar with this delicacy but it sure looks amazing! I love everything that goes in it!
Thanks Zainab! Can’t believe I’m sick again, ugh! Hopefully I’ll be back to myself soon.