Recipe: Potato kugel with sour cream and Parmesan

Total time: 2 hours

Servings: 6 to 8

Note: Serve the kugel with sour cream or extra virgin olive oil.

2 1/2 pounds baking potatoes (about 8), scrubbed, unpeeled

Salt and freshly ground pepper

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

2 onions, chopped (3 cups chopped)

5 cloves garlic, finely chopped (5 teaspoons)

1 1/3 cups sour cream, divided

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste, divided

Cayenne pepper to taste

2 large eggs, beaten

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Paprika for sprinkling

1. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan with water to cover by about 1 inch and a pinch of salt. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are very tender, about 35 minutes. Drain and set aside until cool enough to handle.

2. In a large, heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 1 minute, then stir in the garlic.

3. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Peel the potatoes while still fairly hot. Cut them in a few chunks. Mash them thoroughly with a potato masher, not in a food processor. Add the fried onion and garlic mixture and the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, and mix well.

4. Add one-third cup sour cream and three-eighths teaspoon nutmeg, or as desired, and salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. Add beaten eggs and mix well.

5. Thoroughly grease a 2-quart casserole with olive oil. Add the potato mixture and smooth the top thoroughly. Bake the kugel uncovered until it is firm, about 40 minutes. The kugel can be made ahead of time up to this point, then refrigerated up to 2 days before serving; to finish, reheat (covered with foil) in a 300-degree oven before continuing with the recipe.

6. Shortly before serving, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Season the remaining 1 cup sour cream with the remaining one-eighth teaspoon nutmeg, or to taste. Spoon the sour cream mixture over the kugel in dollops, and spread it gently to the edges of the kugel; try not to spread the sour cream to the sides of the pan. Sprinkle the sour cream evenly with the grated cheese, then with paprika.

7. Bake the kugel until the topping sets and browns lightly, about 10 minutes.

8. If you would like a browner topping, broil the kugel, checking often, no longer than 1 minute, until the topping is dotted with brown. Serve hot.

Each of 8 servings: 286 calories; 7 grams protein; 32 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fiber; 15 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 66 mg cholesterol; 5 grams sugar; 101 mg sodium.