Cookbook:Kugelis (Lithuanian Baked Potato Pudding)

Kugelis (Lithuanian Baked Potato Pudding)
Category	Potato recipes
Difficulty

Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Equipment | Techniques | Cookbook Disambiguation Pages | Recipes | Cuisine of Lithuania

Kugelis, also called bulvių plokštainis (literally "flat potato dish") or banda, is a Lithuanian baked potato pudding. Its main ingredients are potatoes, bacon, milk, onions, and eggs. It may be spiced with salt, black pepper, bay leaves, and/or marjoram. It is usually eaten with sour cream and/or crumbled fried fat white bacon (spirgai).

Ingredients

• 5 lb potatoes, peeled and grated (or ground with a food processor)
• 2 medium onions, grated
• 1 lb bacon, fried and crumbled (reserve about ¼ cup drippings)
• 1 stick (8 tbsp) butter, melted
• 6 eggs
• 1 large can evaporated milk
• 4 tsp salt
• Pepper to taste (about 1 tsp)

Procedure

1. Combine the grated potatoes and onions.
2. Fry and crumble bacon. Add to the potato mixture along with ¼ cup bacon fat. Mix well.
3. Beat the eggs, and stir in the evaporated milk, melted butter, salt, and pepper.
4. Mix the egg mixture into the potato mixture.
5. Pour into a well-greased 9x13-inch cake pan—it should just barely fit.
6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 90 minutes.
7. Slice into squares, and top with sour cream or applesauce.

Notes, tips, and variations

• Leftovers are best reheated sliced thin and sautéed in melted butter. Kugelis also reheats well in the microwave and freezes well.
• Do not drain the liquid from the potatoes and onions.