Cassoulet
Southwest France's legendary bean casserole - white beans slow-cooked with duck confit, sausages, and pork in a rich, crusty masterpiece. This dish requires significant preparation and time, but the result is a deeply flavorful and comforting meal.
๐ง Ingredients
- 500 g Dried white beans(Tarbais or cannellini beans are traditional. Soaking is essential.)
- 4 Duck confit legs(Store-bought is acceptable, or homemade.)
- 450 g Toulouse sausages(Or other high-quality pork sausages.)
- 300 g Pork belly(Cut into 1-inch cubes.)
- 300 g Pork shoulder(Cut into 1-inch cubes.)
- 2 Yellow onions(Medium-sized, finely chopped.)
- 1 head Garlic(Cloves separated and peeled.)
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 Bouquet garni(Bundle of fresh thyme, bay leaf, and parsley stems tied together.)
- 1 cup Coarse breadcrumbs(For topping. Panko or homemade.)
- 4 tbsp Duck fat(Reserved from confit or rendered separately. Plus more for greasing.)
- 6-8 cups Water or chicken/duck stock(As needed to cover beans and meats.)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
๐จโ๐ณ Instructions
- 1
Rinse the dried beans thoroughly. Place them in a large bowl and cover with plenty of cold water. Let them soak overnight (at least 8 hours). Drain and rinse the beans.
โฑ๏ธ Overnight (8+ hours) - 2
Place the drained beans in a large pot. Add the chopped onions, whole garlic head (cut in half horizontally), bouquet garni, and cover with 6 cups of water or stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently, partially covered, for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the beans are almost tender but still hold their shape. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Season lightly with salt towards the end of cooking.
โฑ๏ธ 1 hour 30 minutes - 3
While the beans are simmering, prepare the meats. In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of duck fat over medium-high heat. Sear the pork belly cubes until golden brown and crisp on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the same skillet, brown the pork shoulder cubes until well-colored. Remove and set aside. Finally, brown the Toulouse sausages, turning to ensure even color. Remove and set aside. If there's a lot of rendered fat, pour off excess, reserving it.
โฑ๏ธ 30 minutes - 4
Add the tomato paste to the skillet and cook, stirring, for 1 minute until it darkens slightly. Deglaze the pan with a splash of water or stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Discard the bouquet garni and garlic halves from the beans. Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid.
โฑ๏ธ 5 minutes - 5
Preheat your oven to 140ยฐC (285ยฐF). Generously grease a large, deep, oven-safe casserole dish (a traditional earthenware cassole is ideal) with duck fat. Arrange the duck confit legs, pork belly, pork shoulder, and sausages in the dish. Spoon the almost-tender beans over and around the meats. Stir in the tomato paste mixture. Add enough reserved bean cooking liquid (or additional stock/water) to just cover the beans and meats. Season with salt and pepper.
โฑ๏ธ 20 minutes - 6
Cover the cassole tightly with a lid or foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 2.5 hours. Remove the lid/foil. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the top. Continue baking, uncovered, for another 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the top is golden brown and crusty, and the beans are completely tender and have absorbed most of the liquid. During this final baking period, you will need to break the crust and push it down into the liquid 7 times, allowing a new crust to form each time. This process is crucial for developing the characteristic texture.
โฑ๏ธ 4 hours 30 minutes - 7
Let the cassoulet rest for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the dish to set slightly.
โฑ๏ธ 20 minutes
๐ก Pro Tips
- โBreaking and reforming the crust is essential for the authentic texture and flavor development of cassoulet. Don't skip this step!
- โUsing high-quality rendered duck fat adds unparalleled richness. If you don't have duck confit, you can render fat from duck skin or use good quality pork fat.
- โCassoulet is famously even better reheated the next day, as the flavors have more time to meld. It can be gently reheated on the stovetop or in the oven.
- โThe type of white bean used significantly impacts the final dish. Tarbais beans are prized for their creamy texture and ability to hold their shape.
โจ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Cassoulet de Castelnaudary: Traditionally made with pork only (pork shoulder, pork belly, pork sausages) and sometimes lamb.
- Cassoulet de Carcassonne: Includes lamb in addition to pork and duck.
- Cassoulet de Toulouse: The most common version, featuring duck confit, pork sausages, and pork shoulder/belly.