Every Saturday (Shabbat) morning, the smell of Moroccan Dafina Shabbat Stew permeate throughout every Jewish Moroccan home. It is a scent engrained into our senses for life. The crusty drips from the lid of the slow cooker, the browned eggs and crusty potatoes are all signs that "this is the best one yet!"
Perla's Moroccan Dafina (Shabbat Stew "Hamin")
Equipment
- Slow cooker
DESCRIPTION
Every Saturday (Shabbat) morning, the smells of dafina permeate throughout every Jewish Moroccan home. It is a scent engrained into our senses for life. The crusty drips from the lid of the slow cooker, the browned eggs and crusty potatoes are all signs that "this is the best one yet!"
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb roast (beef, lamb, ribs, flanken)
- 2 marrow bones
- 4 medium red potatoes (peeled and quartered)
- 1 cup navy beans (or 1 can of beans)
- 1 small onion (minced)
- 1 head garlic (washed)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 4 eggs (rinse shells)
- 4 cups water (or more, as needed)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pre-soak the beans in cold water preferably overnight, if not for at least 1 hour. Clip the top off the garlic to remove any sand.
- Fry the onions until transparent, stir in the garlic, salt, cumin, nutmeg, paprika and pepper and cover with 3 cups of water. Layer the saucepan with beans, add the meat and marrow bones. Cook covered over medium temperature until the beans are tender.
- In a saucepan, fry onions until translucent. Add 3 cups of water, salt, cumin, nutmeg, paprika, pepper. Then layer with beans, meat and marrow bones. Cover and cook at medium heat until beans are tender 30-45 minutes.
- Transfer all the contents of the saucepan into a crockpot. Then add the whole eggs (in shell) and then the potatoes. Add the remaining water until the potatoes on top are just submerged. Cover and cook on low, overnight.
- When ready to serve, peel eggs and display on a large platter with potatoes, marrow bones, and meat. The juice and beans are served separately in a bowl.
NUTRITION
Calories: 297kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 20gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 1202mgPotassium: 798mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 194IUVitamin C: 38mgCalcium: 213mgIron: 4mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag me @gokoshercowboy and hashtag it #gokoshercowboy
See more Shabbat recipes here.
Sign up for the Kosher Cowboy newsletter.
George Garcia says
This recipe is pure magic—comfort food at its finest and a beautiful tribute to tradition. The moment the Hamin starts cooking, the incredible aroma filled my kitchen and home. It truly felt like I was being wrapped in a warm hug from Perla and it was promising something truly special would be filling my belly.
I didn’t walk home after Shabbat Service….I RAN!!!! We entered our home, and the incredible smells woke my senses. The meat was fall-apart tender, perfectly seasoned with cumin, paprika, and a hint of nutmeg that brought everything together. I was skeptical but what about the marrow bones? Oh, they take the broth to a whole new level— it was rich, silky, and bursting with flavor. And then there are the potatoes…. they were soft, buttery, and infused with all these incredible spices. They were so good I found myself sneaking an extra serving before anyone noticed.
But the real star might just be the eggs. They were slowly cooked to perfection, they soaked up every ounce of that smoky, savory goodness. Peeling them to reveal their golden glow felt like unwrapping a little Shabbat gift! And when I serve everything together—the tender meat, the creamy potatoes, the eggs, and that hearty, spiced broth—it was a feast that brought my family to the table.
This Dafina isn’t just a dish; it feels like a Moroccan tradition, a memory, a taste of home. It’s the kind of meal that made me slow down, savor each bite, and I truly felt connected—to family, to culture, and to something bigger than myself. Perla, outdid herself…this is comfort, love, and flavor all wrapped up in one beautiful pot.
npool32 says
George, your comment has truly touched my heart. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience in such a beautiful and vivid way. As Perla’s grandson, it means everything to me to know her recipe brought this kind of magic into your home.
Reading your description, I could almost smell the Dafina and feel the warmth of Shabbat. My grandmother would have been so proud to know her cooking created such joy and connection. She always said that food is love, and you’ve captured that sentiment perfectly.
The way you described the tender meat, the buttery potatoes, the rich broth, and those golden eggs… it brought a huge smile to my face. And I’m with you on the marrow bones—they really do take it to another level! Your words brought her legacy to life for me, and I’m so grateful to see her traditions cherished and shared.
Thank you for inviting us into your Shabbat and for connecting with my family’s story in such a heartfelt way. Here’s to many more Shabbats filled with warmth, flavor, and the kind of love that brings families together. ❤️