French Classic Cassoulet

Added: 27.01.10 by John | Views: 562 | Comments: 3

Ingredients

  • For the beans
  • 1 pound great northern beans - soaked overnight and drained
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 cloves garlic - smashed
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 whole clove
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 10 cups water
  • For the rest
  • 1/2 pound thick-sliced bacon
  • 1/2 onion - diced
  • 2 carrots - diced
  • 2 ribs celery - diced
  • 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp herb de Provence or other dried herb blend
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 pound pork sausage
  • 1 pound cooked duck confit
  • For the topping
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 4 cloves - crushed garlic
  • 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 bunch parsley - chopped fine
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Step 1

Soak beans overnight. Then drain them, put them into a soup pot.
Add 1 bay leaf,
4 cloves garlic - smashed,
1/2 onion,
1 whole clove,
1/2 tsp dried rosemary,
1 tsp dried thyme, and
10 cups water. Bring it to a simmer, then simmer on low for 1 hour.
After that, drain them, and save the liquid.

Step 2

Brown the bacon lightly over medium heat. Then add in 1/2 diced onion, 2 diced carrots, some salt and 2 diced ribs celery.
Cook for 10 minutes. Then add 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes,
1 tsp herb de Provence (or other dried herb blend),
1 1/2 tsp salt, and
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper. Give it a stir, and cook for another 10 minutes.
After that, transfer them on the white beans. Them return half of the white beans and the veggie mixture to the pot.

Step 3

Meanwhile, Put 1 tsp olive oil in a pan over low heat. Then brown 1 pound cooked duck confit and 1 pound pork sausage.
After done, put them on the white beans and veggie mixture in the pot. Then add the remaining beans and veggie mixture, and the saved liquid in step 1. Cook in a oven at 350F for 30 minutes.

Step 4

Add 1/4 cup butter, 4 cloves crushed garlic into a pan over a heat. When the butter melts,
Add 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs, 1 bunch chopped parsley, some salt and fresh ground black pepper and
1 tbsp olive oil. Toss well. Then spread half of them over the white beans and veggie mixture when they are done.

Step 5

Then cook 20 minutes uncovered. Remove, Add the remaining breadcrumb mixture. Raise temperature to 375F, Cook 20-25 minutes until perfect!

Comments

  • John - Fri 05 Feb 2010 @ 14:40

    I have several unpublished blog posts about my picks of the world's all-time top-ten recipes. The reason none have gone live yet is I can never settle on just ten, so I put it away and write something easier. While I may not be able to provide a final list yet, one recipe that will always be in my top ten is cassoulet.

  • John - Fri 05 Feb 2010 @ 14:40

    This video recipe for cassoulet shows my version of the iconic French classic (it’s so delicious I meant for that to be redundant). Like America's mac and cheese, Spain's paella, and Italy's lasagna, this French baked bean and meat masterpiece has earned its rightful place in the pantheon of one-dish wonders.

  • John - Fri 05 Feb 2010 @ 14:40

    There are hundreds of variations, but the basic formula is always the same; tender white beans, aromatic vegetables, flavorful broth, and fatty meats, all baked under a divinely crisp, garlicky, breadcrumb crust. As you'll see, this topping is usually built in two stages - the first a moist liaison between cassoulet and crust, and the second a crisp golden-brown climax to the world's sexiest casserole. Enjoy!