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Lithuanian Kugel

A baked potato and bacon casserole with eggs, butter, and evaporated milk.

From the Recipes Wiki (Fandom) · 7 ingredients
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Why it works: Potato and onion are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 3% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 9,023 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓

Lithuanian Kugel

Oven425°F, then 325°F

Ingredients

Directions

Prepare the potatoes

  1. Grate potatoes.

  2. Add salted or lemon juice water.

  3. Drain water.

Mix and bake

  1. Stir all together.

  2. Pour into a 10 x 14 inch pan.

  3. Bake at 425°F for 1/2 hour, then at 325°F for 1/2 hour.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

583Calories
23 gProtein
28 gFat
61 gCarbs
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
IngredientPortion assumedkcal
Potato1 medium (173g) baked161
Milk1 cup (244ml) whole149
Butter1 tbsp (14g)102
Egg1 large egg (50g)78
Onion1 medium (110g)44
Bacon1 slice cooked (8g)43
Black Pepper1 tsp ground (2.3g)6
Salt1 tsp (6g)0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

  1. Potato + oniontop 3% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together9,023 recipes

    Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

  2. Potato + peppertop 9% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together8,305 recipes

    Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

  3. Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together68,474 recipes

    Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

  4. Potato + buttertop 13% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together6,456 recipes

    Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).

  5. Onion + buttertop 15% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together42,912 recipes

    Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Potatoes
Grated potato forms the main body and starch that help the kugel hold together.
Eggs
Beaten eggs bind the mixture and set it into a firm, sliceable custard.
Evaporated milk
Adds moisture and milk proteins that help the kugel turn tender and lightly browned.
Bacon
Bacon fat adds richness and savory flavor to the potatoes as they bake.
Onion
Chopped onion adds aroma and savory flavor throughout the kugel.
Butter
Melted butter adds fat for richness and helps browning on the surface.

The step that matters

Drain the grated potatoes. Grated potato releases water and starch. Removing the excess water before mixing lets the kugel set and brown instead of steaming into a soggy mass.

Swap the onion

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (potato, evaporated milk, egg, butter, pepper):

  1. Capsicumfits better
  2. Chivefits about as well
  3. Onionthe original
  4. Spinachfits about as well

Fit is the average pairing score against potato, evaporated milk, egg, butter, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.

“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.

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