Name: Traditional Cassoulet
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2 pounds dried flageolet, great northern beans, or navy beans -; 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided -; 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes -; 1 1/2 cups dry white wine -; 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped -; 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped -; 2 stalks celery, finely chopped -; 4 sprigs fresh thyme, tied together with kitchen twine -; 6 to 8 cloves garlic, unpeeled -; 4 duck whole leg confit , excess fat trimmed off -; 6 slices (6 ounces) thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces -; 1 1/2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces -; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper -; 1 pound sweet Italian sausages -; 1/2 baguette or 4 slices crusty sourdough bread, torn into small pieces -; 2 tablespoons duck fat (rendered from browning the confit) or olive oil -; 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish -

Ingredients for - Traditional Cassoulet

1. 2 pounds dried flageolet, great northern beans, or navy beans

2. 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

3. 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

4. 1 1/2 cups dry white wine

5. 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped

6. 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped

7. 2 stalks celery, finely chopped

8. 4 sprigs fresh thyme, tied together with kitchen twine

9. 6 to 8 cloves garlic, unpeeled

10. 4 duck whole leg confit , excess fat trimmed off

11. 6 slices (6 ounces) thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

12. 1 1/2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

13. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

14. 1 pound sweet Italian sausages

15. 1/2 baguette or 4 slices crusty sourdough bread, torn into small pieces

16. 2 tablespoons duck fat (rendered from browning the confit) or olive oil

17. 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish

How to cook deliciously - Traditional Cassoulet

1 . Stage

Soak the beans overnight: In a large pot, add the beans and cover them with at least 2 inches of cold water. Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and let it soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. If it’s a cool day, you can leave the beans on your kitchen counter. Otherwise, pop them in the fridge for soaking.

2 . Stage

Partially cook the beans with aromatics: Drain the soaked beans in a colander set in the sink and rinse them under cold running water. Return the beans to the pot and stir in the diced tomatoes, white wine, onion, carrots, celery, thyme, and garlic. Add enough cold water to cover the beans by 1 inch. Set the pot over medium-low heat and slowly bring the beans to a simmer, covered with a lid. Once it comes up to a simmer, cook for 30 minutes. The beans will not be fully cooked at this point. Set a colander over a large bowl and drain the beans and aromatics into it. Do not discard the cooking liquid. It’s not necessary, but if you’d like, pick out the thyme and garlic peels, and discard them.

3 . Stage

Preheat the oven: Set an oven rack to the center and preheat the oven to 300°F.

4 . Stage

While the beans simmer, brown the meats: Pat the duck legs dry with a paper towel. Heat a large (at least 8-quart) Dutch oven over medium heat and when it is hot, add the duck legs. The duck should render enough fat, so you will not need to add any oil. Brown them on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer them to a platter. You can reserve some of the rendered duck fat for the breadcrumbs—pour some into a small bowl. If you want to serve the duck in smaller pieces, not whole, cut each leg in half at the joint between the thigh and leg. You can also pull the meat from the bones using your hands. This will make them easier to eat. In the same Dutch oven set over medium heat, cook the bacon for 5 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until it renders most of its fat, but is not yet crisp. Transfer it to the platter with the duck. Season the pork with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper. With the tip of a paring knife, prick each sausage in a couple of places. This will help them keep their shape as they cook. In the same Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, add the pork and sausages in a single layer without overlapping. Cook them until browned all over, turning them often, about 10 minutes total. Transfer them to the platter. Cut the sausage into 1-inch rounds.

5 . Stage

Deglaze the pot: Set the Dutch oven over medium heat. To deglaze the pot, add about 1/2 cup of the reserved bean cooking liquid and use a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits stuck to the bottom and sides.

6 . Stage

Assemble the cassoulet: Turn off the burner. Into the Dutch oven, add a third of the beans and spread them out into an even layer. Arrange the bacon and pork on top. Cover with half of the remaining beans. Arrange the duck and sausages on top and cover with a final layer of beans. Pour in the reserved bean cooking liquid. There should be enough liquid to just about cover the beans (the same level as the beans). Add water if needed. If you have leftover bean cooking liquid, reserve it in case the cassoulet needs more as it cooks.

7 . Stage

Bake the cassoulet: Cover the Dutch oven with a lid and set it in the oven. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes without opening the lid.

8 . Stage

Meanwhile, make the breadcrumbs: In a food processor, add the bread and pulse until you have large crumbs (about 1/2-inch pieces).

9 . Stage

Bake the cassoulet with the breadcrumbs: Take the Dutch oven out of the oven. Remove a few of the beans, then bite into them. (They should be quite close to done. If not, continue baking until they are.) If the beans look dry, add enough of the reserved bean cooking liquid to barely cover the beans. Spread a layer of breadcrumbs over the cassoulet. Pop the Dutch oven back into the oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Take the Dutch oven out of the oven again, and with the back of a large spoon gently press the breadcrumbs into the cassoulet to dampen them. Bake it again, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Raise the oven temperature to 350ºF. Once again, take the Dutch oven out of the oven, and gently press the breadcrumbs into the cassoulet. Drizzle the top with 2 tablespoons duck fat or olive oil. Bake it again, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until the top is golden and glistening. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze cassoulet in an airtight container for up to 3 months.