Two Bean Cassoulet Recipes

THREE-BEAN CASSOULET

Steps:

• In an ungreased 3-qt. baking dish, combine all ingredients. Cover and bake at 350° for 60-70 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaf.

WHITE BEAN CASSOULET

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium stock pot. Add the vegetables to the oil, stir frequently, and cook until lightly brown around the edges. Add remaining ingredients, except sausage, 1 at a time. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Stir in sausage and allow to cook for 10 more minutes. Place in bowls, spoon 1 tablespoon of pesto and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sausage into each bowl. Serve with Garlic-Parmesan Crostini.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Season the sausage with salt, to taste, and carefully place in a single layer across the skillet. Cook the sausage for 3 to 5 minutes over medium-high heat or until browned. Turn the sausages and repeat on opposite side. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Slice into 1/4-inch slices.
• Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a small skillet. Add the garlic and cook for 5 minutes or until garlic begins to brown. Remove from heat. Brush the garlic oil on the top and bottom of each slice of bread. Place the bread in a single layer over a sheet pan. Sprinkle each slice with parmesan. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes on the middle oven rack until bread browns over the top. Serve.

CASSOULET WITH FRESH BEANS

Steps:

• Combine the garlic and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Set aside. Grill the chicken drumsticks over hot coals until lightly charred, about 3 minutes on each side. Skin. Brush with 1/2 the roasted garlic puree. Lay a piece of foil over the grill. Put the chicken on the foil. Cover the grill and continue cooking until the meat is opaque at the bone, about 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Combine the remaining olive oil, leeks, roasted onions and garlic in a heavy-bottom pot. Saute over medium-high heat until the leeks begin to wilt, about 3 minutes. Add the navy beans, wine, broth, cloves, bouquet garni and tomatoes. Simmer until the beans are tender, about 2 to 3 hours. Take out 1 cup of the broth and pour it into a glass or ceramic bowl. Set aside to cool slightly. Whisk in the remaining roasted garlic puree. Set aside.
• Blanch the fava beans in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain. Rinse under cold running water. Peel off their outer skins. Set aside.
• Add the carrots and chicken to the cassoulet and simmer for 10 additional minutes. Turn off the heat, whisk in the roasted garlic sauce and add the fava beans. Let the fava beans sit in the hot liquid for 3 to 5 minutes before serving. Divide among 4 bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley and basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

TWO-BEAN CASSOULET

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown the chicken thighs in hot oil over med-low heat for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
• Remove chicken from skillet; reserve drippings in skillet.
• Add carrots, onion, and garlic to skillet; cover and cook about 10 minutes or just until the carrots are tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in drained beans, tomato sauce, wine, thyme, and allspice; stir in sausage.
• Transfer to an ungreased 2 quart casserole dish.
• Place chicken on top.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
• If desired, sprinkle tomatoes and parsley over the top.
• Bake about 5 more minutes or just until the tomatoes are heated through.