№072Sephardic Traditions
Adafina Chickpea Pot
The legendary Spanish-Sephardic Sabbath stew (ancestor of cholent and dafina) featuring beef, chickpeas, eggs, and sweet spices layered and slow-cooked overnight.
Ingredients
What you’ll need
- 2 lbs beef brisket (cut in chunks)
- 1 cup chickpeas (soaked overnight)
- 1/2 cup split fava beans (soaked)
- 6 raw eggs in shell
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ginger
- turmeric
- salt
- 2 tbsp honey
- water
Method
How it comes together
- 1
Layer soaked chickpeas and fava beans at the bottom of a large deep crockpot or heavy Dutch oven.
- 2
Place the beef brisket chunks, head of garlic, and raw eggs (in their shells) on top.
- 3
Pour in water to fully cover all elements. Add honey, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and salt.
- 4
Cover tightly and cook at 200°F (95°C) overnight for 18-24 hours. Serve the meat, eggs, and beans on separate platters.
Accuracy note
Historical and regional adafina formulas are highly variable. This is a practical Sephardic archetype, not a reconstruction of one medieval household recipe.
Chef’s note
Long overnight cooking at low heat caramelizes the proteins and starches, creating a deeply complex savory-sweet flavor profile.
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