Cassoulet – French White Bean & Meat Gratin
There are thence many reasons non to brand cassoulet. You postulate lots of ingredients, some of which lead maintain endeavor to find. There are many steps, in addition to fifty-fifty some of the steps lead maintain steps. It volition also appear similar you lot used every pot in addition to pan inward the kitchen, which volition endure trashed yesteryear the fourth dimension you’re done.
Speaking of time, this is going to lead maintain hours to cook, but solely later lots of prep. You all the same amongst me? So, why would anyone larn through all that? That’s easy. Cassoulet is i of the most delicious dishes you’ll e’er have. Plus, it’s neat for honing your observational skills, since no 2 cassoulet are the same, in addition to the times I ambit are solely a guide.
If you lot usage a unlike bean, or more/less meat, or a unlike size/shape pan or casserole, you lot may postulate to add together liquid sooner than 2 hours in. Basically, merely function along in addition to optic on things, adding broth when needed, until you’re happy amongst the in conclusion results.
Depending on how salty your meats are, every bit good every bit how highly seasoned you lot stock is, you lot may or may non postulate to add together to a greater extent than tabular array salt to the in conclusion mixture. Other than that, in addition to notwithstanding all that materials I said before inward the post, this actually is a unproblematic recipe. I promise you lot ambit this a seek out soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 8 portions (I used a 12-inch pan, about 3-inches deep):
For the beans in addition to cooking liquid:
- 3 quarts seasoned chicken stock or broth (The beans should endure cooked inward a lightly seasoned stock or broth, thence add together tabular array salt to taste. I didn’t add together whatever on photographic boob tube camera every bit mine was already seasoned.)
- 1 pound Tarbais beans, or other white beans, soaked overnight
- 4 ounces ham, bacon, tabular array salt pork, or pancetta, cutting inward 1/4-inch die (as I mentioned, I experimented amongst large pieces, but it was likewise much)
- 1 bouquet garni (2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon dark peppercorn, vi springs thyme, vi unpeeled garlic cloves cutting inward half, tied inward cheesecloth)
– add together reserved bones from your duck in addition to pork if available
— simmer for 45 minutes or until beans are almost tender
— strain in addition to reserve liquid
The other meat:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 12 ounces fresh pork shoulder or chop, cutting into 2-inch pieces, seasoned amongst tabular array salt in addition to freshly dry soil dark pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 pounds (4 links) Toulouse sausages, or other garlic pork sausage
- 2 duck leg confit (most fancy grocery stores bear this, but you lot tin fellowship online, or make your ain amongst this onetime recipe)
NOTE: This is traditionally a “poor man’s” dish, in addition to would non lead maintain nearly the generous render of rich meats. So, if you lot desire something more authentic, you lot tin cutting the meat amounts downwardly by one-half at least.
The veggies:
- 1 loving cup diced onion
- 1/2 loving cup diced carrot
- 1/2 loving cup diced celery
- 1/4 loving cup tomato plant paste
- 3/4 loving cup white wine
1 teaspoon salt
The crumb topping:
- 2 cups manifestly breadcrumbs
- 1/2 loving cup chopped Italian parsley
- 2 tablespoons rendered duck fatty
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/4 loving cup cooking liquid
(warning, I don’t mensurate this stuff, thence merely add together plenty melted fatty to moisten the crumbs until they await similar damp sand)
– Bake for 2 hours at 350 F for 2 hours, or until most of the broth is absorbed.
– Add to a greater extent than broth, poking downwardly a trivial of the crust into the beans.
– Bake for some other 45 minutes, or until well-browned, in addition to the meat is fork tender