Shared by Hagit Bilia

This recipe is food blogger Hagit Bilia’s own creation, but draws on both sides of her family, using chickpeas like her Moroccan grandmother Sul and a mixture of potatoes and flour she calls kigelach like her Russian aunt Pola. Hagit worked hard on the recipe, but over time, she says, she’s learned that she can be a bit more relaxed when she makes it, knowing that after 12 hours in the oven, the dish will taste right, no matter what.
Read more about Hagit's family in "A Classic Chicken Soup For Every Season" and try her recipes for meatballs with onion "jam" and chicken noodle soup.
Make the kigelach: Heat up the oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the onions until softened, about 8-10 minutes. Add the onions into a heatproof bowl and let them cool for about 5 minutes. Add the mashed potato, 2 cups of whole wheat flour, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and two beaten eggs. Mix very well with a wooden spoon until combined. Shape the mixture into a round ball. Place the kigelach into the pot on top of the eggs and potatoes.
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees fahrenheit.
Assemble the cholent: Take a large dutch oven or stainless steel pot (6-8 quarts). Place 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and the onion in the bottom of the pot. Place the barley, chickpeas and white beans in one layer (each in its own mound on a third of the layer). Place the marrow bones, ossobuco, beef, and chicken on the next layer above the barley and beans. Add the potatoes, eggs, and garlic on top. Place the kigelach on top of the potato and egg layer.
Make the sauce: Add 2 tablespoons of ketchup, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of silan or brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper and ¼ cup of water into a large bowl. Stir the ingredients together until combined. Pour this sauce evenly into the pot with the cholent components. Add enough water on top to cover all the ingredients in the pot.
Bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Skim any scum that rises to the top. Place a lid on the pot and transfer into the oven. Cook for 8 hours or overnight. Check the pot occasionally and add additional water if needed to come at least halfway up the ingredients.
Serve hot.