Israeli Cholent (Slow-Cooked Sabbath Stew)
A hearty overnight-simmered stew of beef, barley, beans and potatoes, traditionally started before Shabbat and kept warm until the next day.
About This Recipe
Israeli Cholent is a real, traditional Israeli dish, known as Slow-Cooked Sabbath Stew. A hearty overnight-simmered stew of beef, barley, beans and potatoes, traditionally started before Shabbat and kept warm until the next day.\n\nCholent developed among Jewish communities across Europe as a way to prepare a hot meal for the Sabbath without violating the prohibition against cooking on the day of rest, left simmering on very low heat from before sundown Friday until lunch on Saturday.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Israeli home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.
Ingredients
Serves 8
- 800 gbeef chuck(cubed)
- 200 gpearl barley
- 300 gdried kidney beans(soaked overnight, or canned)
- 1yellow onion(diced)
- 6potatoes(peeled and halved)
- 4eggs(whole, in shell)
- 2 tbspsweet paprika
- 1 tspground cumin
- 2 tbsptomato paste
- 1.5 Lwater or stock
- 1 tspfine sea salt(to taste)
Instructions
- 1
Layer the pot
In a large heavy pot or slow cooker, layer the onion, then the beef, then the soaked beans, barley and potatoes.
- 2
Season
Sprinkle with paprika, cumin and tomato paste dissolved in a bit of the water.
- 3
Add liquid
Pour in enough water or stock to just cover everything.
- 4
Add eggs
Nestle the whole, unpeeled eggs into the pot among the other ingredients — they will slowly cook into a deep brown, custardy 'baked egg' (hamin).
- 5
Cook low and slow
Cover tightly and cook at the lowest possible oven setting (around 90-100°C/195-210°F) or on a slow cooker's low setting for 12 to 18 hours, ideally overnight.
- 6
Serve
Season with salt to taste, peel the softened eggs, and serve the stew hot with the eggs on the side or nestled in each bowl.
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Pro Tips
- →
Cook this at a genuinely very low temperature for a very long time — the extended, gentle cooking is what defines cholent and develops its deep flavor.
- →
Whole eggs cooked this way turn a deep brown and develop a distinctive creamy texture, a beloved feature called hamin.
- →
Check the liquid level partway through a long cook and add a splash of hot water if it looks too dry.
Variations
- •
A vegetarian version replaces beef with extra beans and mushrooms for umami depth.
- •
Some households add a whole kishke (stuffed derma) to the pot for extra richness, a traditional Ashkenazi addition.
- •
Add a few dates or a spoonful of honey for a subtle sweetness, common in some family recipes.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.
History & Origin
Cholent developed among Jewish communities across Europe as a way to prepare a hot meal for the Sabbath without violating the prohibition against cooking on the day of rest, left simmering on very low heat from before sundown Friday until lunch on Saturday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this in a regular slow cooker?
Yes, this is now the most common home method — set it to low and let it cook for 12 to 18 hours, essentially overnight.
Why do the eggs turn brown?
The prolonged, low, gentle cooking alongside the stew's spices and liquid slowly changes both the color and texture of the eggs into a rich, custardy result called hamin.
Can I use canned beans instead of soaking dried ones?
Yes, though dried beans that cook alongside the stew for the full long cooking time develop a slightly different, more integrated texture; canned beans can be added a few hours into the cook instead of at the start.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (450g / 15.9 oz) · 8 servings total
Time Summary
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