Lithuanian Kugelis

Recipe Name: Lithuanian Kugelis

Story: In 2021 we had Christmas at Brad and Vilma's. I thought it would be nice to try and make a dish for Vilma that is common around special holidays in Lithuania.  This recipe turned out great, and everyone seemed to really enjoy it!

Years you've been making it: Since 2021

Author / Creator: 

https://www.seriouseats.com/kugelis-lithuanian-potato-casserole-recipe

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: 

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 4 large russet potatoes
• 1/2 pound bacon
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter an 8 x 8 inch baking pan. Grate the potatoes on the large holes of a box grater, and place grated potatoes in a bowl of cold water.
2. Cook bacon over medium high heat until bacon is crisp and fat is rendered, about 7 minutes. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Once bacon is cool enough to handle, coarsely chop. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat, return pan to medium heat, and add chopped onion. Cook until onions are soft and brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve.
3. Combine beaten eggs and milk and season with salt and pepper. Remove a handful of grated potatoes from water and place in center of clean dishtowel. Close towel around potato and twist towel to ring out water. Add drained potatoes to egg/milk mixture and repeat with remaining potatoes. Add chopped bacon and onions to potato mixture and, using a wooden spoon, mix until all ingredients are well combined; then pour into prepared baking pan. Place in preheated oven and bake until potatoes are soft and brown and beginning to crisp, about 1 hour. Serve with sour cream and sliced scallions.

Notes: 

I find when making dishes like this, ones heavy with potatoes, that you really have to use a fair amount of salt and pepper.  I added some salt to the bowl of cold water that the potatoes soaked in, sort of like seasoning the water (probably a couple tsp).  I also added some salt when everything was mixed together and a decent amount of pepper (I really like pepper), probably 1 tsp of pepper or more.