This apricot apple matzo farfel kugel was inspired by a reader who loved my first kugel recipe posted in 2013. If you like a kugel with a touch of sweet, tart and crunch, you’ll love the apricots, apples, and crisp-like topping in this recipe.
1/2cuphot water or red wine or orange juice or apple juice
4cupsmatzo farfel5-6 boards of matzo (set aside 1/3 cup for matzo crunch topping)
4eggs 6 eggs if you don't use flaxseed mixture
1/3cupsugar
2teaspoonscinnamon
1/2teaspoonnutmeg
2teaspoonskosher salt
1stick of unsalted margarine or butterdivided - (2 tblsps for crisping up matzo farfel (step 3); 4 tblsps melted for kugel (step 5), 2 tblsp melted for crunch topping (step 6) )
3medium or 2 large applespeeled, cored, and sliced
1teaspoonlemon juice or 1/2 a lemon for squeezing
1/2cupunsweetened applesauce
2tablespoonsground flax seed mixed with 6 tablespoons of wateroptional - use if you want to reduce the number of eggs to 4
Matzo Crunch Topping
1/3cupmatzo farfelset aside from above 4 cups
2tablespoonsof melted butter or margarinelisted above
1/2cupfinely chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2teaspooncinnamon
1tablespoonsugar
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 X 13 baking dish.
Rehydrate/soften the dried fruit (raisins and apricots) w hot water or whatever liquid you choose - let them sit while you continue with the other preparation
Instead of buying pre-made farfel, simply place the matzo boards in a ziploc bag and use your rolling pin to break them up into little pieces. 2 boards will yield about 1 cup of farfel.
Beat 2 of the eggs and mix with the farfel and a teaspoon of the salt. Heat a skillet to medium low, melt two tablespoons of the butter then add the egg farfel mixture, mixing frequently to be sure the pieces brown and separate. You can walk away while this cooks but return frequently to mix and separate the farfel. Once the egg is set, pieces are mostly separate and a little darker, set the farfel aside while you prepare the apples and wet ingredients.
Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples - sprinkle with a bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning.
In a medium bowl, beat the remaining 2 eggs (4 if you don't use the flaxseed) with the sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and 4 tablespoons of the melted and cooled butter or margarine. Add in the applesauce, flaxseed mixture, toasted farfel mixture, and the dried fruit and it's soaking liquid. Mix until well combined.
In a small bowl combine all the matzo crunch topping ingredients and mix well.
In your greased baking dish, layer 1/2 the apple slices and sprinkle with a dusting of cinnamon if you'd like (optional), then add the matzo farfel mixture and then top with the remaining apples. Then sprinkle with the matzo nut crunch topping.
Bake for approximately 40 minutes. (should get crunchy on the top and see it bubbly on the inside). You can make it ahead but be sure to reheat in the oven so the crunch returns to the topping!
Notes
The use of applesauce and the flaxseed mixture allow this kugel to come together with only 4 eggs. If you don't have the flaxseed, use 6 eggs instead.