afoona
Yemeni Jachnun with Egg and Zhug
Breads & Pastries

Yemeni Jachnun with Egg and Zhug

Jachnun is a traditional Yemeni bread baked overnight – sweetish, caramelized and rich in butter, served on Shabbat morning.

⏱ 8 hr 30 min🍽 8 servings 🌍 Middle Eastern👩‍🍳 Afoona🧩 3 parts

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Dough base

  1. 1
    Mix the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
    Bowl
  2. 2
    Add the lukewarm water and Knead about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, pliable and doesn't stick to your hands.
    ⚙ KneadingBowlStand mixer
    💡For yeast dough, use the windowpane test: a small piece stretches into a thin, translucent sheet without tearing, and that's the sign the kneading is done. Add flour only by the tablespoon, and only if the dough is still sticky after a few minutes: too much flour makes a tough dough.
  3. 3
    Cover and let the dough rest 30 minutes.
    Kitchen towel
    💡A dough without yeast doesn't rise: resting lets the gluten relax, so the dough can then be stretched very thin without tearing.

For the Hot Paste

  1. 4
    Remove the seeds from the peppers.
    💡The seeds and white membranes are where the heat is: remove them all for a mild schug, leave some in for a hot one.
  2. 5
    Grind the peppers in a food processor with the garlic and cilantro.
    ⚙ Grinding in a Food ProcessorFood processor
    💡In a food processor, grind in short pulses and check between pulses: it's easy to go from coarse to paste. (Sesame for tahini, on the other hand, is ground continuously.)
  3. 6
    Add the cumin, lemon juice and salt and grind to an even paste.
    Food processor

To assemble

  1. 7
    Divide the dough into 6 balls and roll each ball into a circle very thin on a work surface greased, until the dough is almost see-through.
    ⚙ Dividing into Balls and RollingRolling pin
    💡Dough that springs back needs rest: cover the balls for 10 minutes and the gluten relaxes.
  2. 8
    Spread the margarine over each sheet.
  3. 9
    Fold each sheet in thirds lengthwise and roll into a tight log.
  4. 10
    Arrange the rolls in a greased heavy pot.
    Pot
  5. 11
    Nestle the eggs in their shells among the rolls.
    💡Eggs baked overnight alongside the jachnun get a brown shell and a soft, creamy white.
  6. 12
    Close the pot with the lid and bake in the oven at 100°C (210°F) overnight (7–8 hours).
    OvenPot
    💡The low heat and closed pot bake the jachnun slowly in its own steam: it browns and caramelizes outside and stays soft in layers.
  7. 13
    Serve hot with the peeled eggs, the zhug and halved tomatoes.
507calories
11 gprotein
60 gcarbs
24 gfat
● protein 9%● carbs 48%● fat 43%

Per serving (167 g), of 8 servings

For the Dough base · For the Hot Paste · To assemble ·

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⚖ About the ingredients

🔧 Tools needed (6) · 🍳 One cooking vessel

  • Food processor · Also works: Knife (More time and handwork, less even texture) · Electric mini chopper (Small amounts) · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Blender (Needs more liquid)
  • Oven · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Toaster oven (Fits one small pan; good for small batches) · Air fryer (Small batches only, no runny batters) · Pot (Only for covered stews on the stovetop, no browning on top)
  • Pot · Also works: Deep skillet (sauté pan) (less liquid, faster evaporation) · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Wok (For quick cooking)
  • Rolling pin · Also works: Glass (for drinking/serving) (Bottle/glass, less even rolling) · Pasta machine (For pasta dough)
  • Bowl · Also works: Pot (None)
  • Kitchen towel · Also works: Plastic wrap (Plastic wrap over the bowl) · Paper towels (None)

Helps, not needed: Stand mixer

By the steps, as the recipe is built now: another version or addition can change the list.

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