Goof Proof Cholent Recipes

CLASSIC CHOLENT

Steps:

• 1. Place the onions and potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker. 2. Top with the beef stew meat and marrow bones. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper. Add the barley and kidney beans, then sprinkle on the paprika, cumin, turmeric and chili powder. 3. Drizzle the top of the cholent with honey, top with the kishka, then pour the water over the top to cover the beans. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat overnight, or for at least 8 hours.

CHOLENT

Steps:

• Place the beans in a medium bowl and cover with a few inches of water. Refrigerate at least 8 hours.
• Using the sear feature of your slow cooker, or a heavy pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Season the beef on both sides with salt and pepper. Sear the beef until deep golden brown on one side, 6 to 8 minutes. Turn and sear other side until golden brown, 4 to 6 more minutes. Remove the beef and set aside. Remove and discard excess oil. Add 1/4 cup of the red wine and scrape the bottom of the pan. Cook until mostly reduced, about 30 seconds.
• If searing in the slow cooker, add the onions in one layer. Top with the potatoes, then the seared beef. If searing in a separate pan, place the onions in one layer on the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with the potatoes, then the beef, then pour in the reduced wine.
• Top with the drained beans, then the carrots, garlic and barley. Whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup red wine, tomato paste and honey in a large glass measuring cup and add 2 cups water. Add the water mixture and the beef broth to the cooker. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours.
• Stir in the vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley and serve.

FUNKY CHOLENT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the beef stew meat, and quickly brown the pieces on all sides. Stir in the potatoes, sweet potato, baked beans, ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard, onion soup mix, seasoned salt, and steak seasoning, and pour in enough water to cover. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook on low heat until the beef is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the pearl barley, and transfer the stew to a slow cooker set on Low until the barley is tender, about 12 hours.

CHOLENT

Steps:

• Line the bottom of a slow cooker with the potatoes, the onion and then the short ribs, sprinkling the meat with pepper to taste.
• Scatter the barley and the beans on top, then pour on the broth and the honey or molasses. Sprinkle with the paprika and salt to taste. Add enough water to cover all the ingredients. Cook on low for 12 to 15 hours, stirring occasionally (except during Shabbat, for those who observe it), adding more water if necessary. The longer the cholent cooks, the better it will be.

GOOF-PROOF CHOLENT

Steps:

• Use large stove- and oven-proof pot or start in pot and change to large casserole dish when it's time to put in oven.
• Put the beans in a large saucepan with water to cover them by at least 2 inches. Cover and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes then remove from heat. Leave the beans to soak for 3 hours. (Alternatively soak unboiled beans in water overnight.).
• Trim meat of all visible fat and cut into 4 - 6 large chunks.
• Saute onions in small amount of oil until they just begin to brown.
• Add meat to pot and brown on all sides.
• Add soaked and drained beans, barley, lentils, paprika, salt, pepper and ginger.
• Put potatoes on top.
• Add enough boiling water so that everything is almost covered but there is at least 1 inch headroom at top of pot/dish.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Over medium heat, bring cholent to boil then cover pot/dish tightly with lid and/or foil and place in oven.
• Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees then reduce heat to 225 degrees and bake overnight (12 - 20 hours). It can be served any time after the minimum 12 hours.
• DO NOT STIR WHILE COOKING.