Cholent

Because cooking is religiously banned on Shabbat, every Jewish culture has developed a traditional stew that’s simmered overnight on Friday to provide a hot meal on the day of rest.
From “cholent” in Yiddish-speaking communities to “khamin” in Israel, and from the Moroccan “skhina” and North African “adafina” to northern European “schalet” or “schalent,” the variations on the dish are as numerous as the communities that prepare it, and the recipes countless.
To put to the test a handful of recipes that have landed in Fairfield County, The Conservative Synagogue of Westport, Weston & Wilton holds the occasional Cholent Cookoff. Congregants taste and vote for their favorites after Shabbat services.  Following are two recipes from the 2010 contest.

First-Place Winner:

Rub-A-Dub Rib

Prepared by Asya Tibi

Feeds 10
5 lbs. ribs or similar
1 tbsp. salt
1/4 tbsp. each, black, white, and cayenne pepper
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. oregano
1 tbsp. parsley
3 bay leaves
2 tbsp. soy sauce
5 cloves garlic
1 large onion, chopped
5 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 bag sauerkraut
2 cans chick peas
1 small can tomato paste
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
5 potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, and quartered
1/4″ slice ginger

Marinate meat in soy sauce with 2 cloves peeled garlic, ginger, salt and peppers for 15-30 min.
Mix together chopped onion, carrots, celery, and 3 cloves minced or chopped garlic with sauerkraut, chick peas, tomato paste, jalapeño, soy sauce, salt, paprika, and dry herbs. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Put this mix at the bottom of a dish.
Remove the meat from the marinade. Arrange potatoes and meat pieces on top of the vegetables, put fresh herbs and a couple of bay leaves on top, cover the dish and cook at 200º F for 15-20 hours. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Vegetarian entry:

I’m Marrying Danny and I’m Going to Make Him Eat This Every Shabbat

Prepared by Danielle Salzberg

Feeds 8-10 as a side dish

1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
2 baking potatoes, peeled or unpeeled and chopped
2 small onions, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 cup dried kidney beans, soaked overnight
1 cup dried lima beans, soaked overnight
1 can Heinz vegetarian beans
1 pareve kishka
water
1 c. barley
salt, pepper, garlic, paprika

In a slow cooker or crockpot, mix together all the ingredients except barley and cover with water. Add barley to fill the wet spots. Cover and cook on low overnight, or for 12 hours.