What could be a more perfect hunker-down-dish than a deep-brown, saucy and aromatic cassoulet? How about one that involves so little effort it's shameful? I made one in the slow cooker yesterday that was, as my favourite taste-tester (and husband) proclaimed, 100% rustic French farmhouse (even if id did come from a slow cooker).
The culinary romantic part of me longs for a Le Creuset baker - the perfect vessel for a slow cooked, saucy, bubbling and brown-topped cassoulet. The stingy side of me keeps balking at the price. I have been doing this dance of alternating lust and restraint over the Le Creuset baker for the better part of 10 years now. I see no need to stop.
That is why, instead of a misty-lensed picturesque afternoon punctuated by peeks into the softly glowing oven to check the progress of my mythical casserole, I made mine in the extremely well-loved slow-cooker that I bought at Home Depot in 2004 for the ridiculously low price of $35.99. Not exactly the charming genesis I had envisioned for this dish, but hey, it was still darn tasty.
This dish is best served with a big loaf of warm crusty bread and fresh butter or, if you're going for the authentic farmhouse feel, topped with a generous helping of breadcrumbs fried in seasoned butter. or possibly both.
It's important to get the right kind of sausage for this as it will be simmered for a great deal of time, and coarser sausages tend to fall apart with such treatment. The kind I use is fine ground and can stand up to hours of simmering - sometimes it's referred to as "boiling sausage". I buy it mine at the K&K Foodliner on Whyte Avenue where they sell it in ham, beef, turkey & bison varieties and it's all made right on premises.
Serves 6
- 1.5 cups dried cannellini beans
- 350 - 400 grams good country garlic sausage, sliced into rounds about 1/4 inch thich
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 small carrots, peeled and sliced into coins
- 1 large (896 ml) tin chopped tomatoes in juice
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley
Soak beans overnight or at least 4 hours in warm water, drain, rinse and add to a 4.5 litre (or larger) slow cooker.
In a large frying pan, lightly sprayed with oil, quickly fry the sausage rounds at medium high heat for 6 to 7 minutes until sausage begins to brown, add onion and continue to cook and stir for 3-4 minutes more until onion begins to soften.
Transfer contents of pan into the slow cooker and use the beef stock to deglaze the pan. Add all remaining ingredients to the slow cooker, except the parsley. Cook on the high setting for 3 to 4 hours. Remove from heat and stir through the parsley. Have a taste before you add any salt or pepper as, depending on the sausage and stock used, there may be no need for salt.
Serve in chunky earthenware bowls topped with buttered fried breadcrumbs or with fresh French bread. This is even better the second day!
Hello! I'm just a lurker surfing by, and noticed your lovely bean cassoulet... and wishful twinges for a Le Creuset. I don't know how similar this 2 3/4 quart baker performs to the french ovens(not to mention it's on the small side for making multi-person meals), but for the price, you might be interested! :) http://www.surlatable.com/product/le+creuset+heart-shaped+covered+stoneware+baker.do?search=basic&keyword=le+creuset+heart&sortby=gsa&asc=true&page=1
Posted by: lauriel | January 10, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Wow - this looks and sounds delicious!
I am really tempted to get a slow cooker when we move as they are so practical; unfortunately at the moment I have so little kitchen space I have nowhere to put one!
Posted by: Alexx | January 11, 2008 at 07:35 AM
This looks amazing, I just recently got a slow cooker and have been looking for good recipes for it. Did you pre cook the beans? I did a bean dish recently and did not pre cook, they remained a bit firm.
Posted by: Sherri | January 11, 2008 at 03:12 PM
I've just bought my first slow cooker (though I've my Le Creuset Dutch oven for years), and I've been learning how to use it. This is my kind of recipe, simple and flexible. Definitely bookmarking.
Posted by: Lydia | January 12, 2008 at 06:33 AM
Yes...Looks great I'm off to Wegmans to purchase items needed for recipe. Can't wait
Posted by: Leslie | January 13, 2008 at 09:29 AM
update..I made the recipe after stumbling upon your site..all i can say that it was awesome. I made it without the topping and a side of crusty bread was perfect. Thanks
Posted by: Leslie | January 27, 2008 at 10:12 AM
This dish was absolutely delicious! I served it with lightly toasted french bread slices. I made it in the slow cooker and let it simmer for 7 hours on low, it was perfect!
Posted by: Joe | May 27, 2008 at 04:16 PM
this looks incredibly awesome!!! what is 'herbes de Provence'?
Posted by: MJ Bua | June 01, 2008 at 09:03 PM
my mom had a recipe just like this. very nice.
Posted by: laura | June 19, 2008 at 02:09 AM
Hi We are wondering if you would like to post with us? You can promote your own site. We have been building a great community and would really like you to post with us Thanks EuroFoodie.com
Posted by: eurofoodie | July 07, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Luckily to read your article,thank you! I would like to wish you a joyous everyday and express my hope for your happiness and good future.
Posted by: discount coach | July 04, 2010 at 07:06 PM
This kind of shoes are very especial and beautiful. I recommend it to you. Hope you like it!
Posted by: mbt shoes | July 08, 2010 at 09:03 PM
Great content and it's so helpful for me. But it's so weird that your blog is in a mess through my explorer. Is that my explorer problem? But it's pretty normal when exploring other blogs.
Posted by: prada handbags | September 03, 2010 at 01:01 AM
The articles you wrote was very good,and since I read it,now I will read every day.and hope you will assit them.please do not lose heart
We should care about people and things around us. Even though the international economic how to change. Thanks you put this paper in your blog.
Posted by: acg boots | September 08, 2010 at 12:53 AM
I am really interested in your article,may I load it to my blog?
Posted by: MBT shoes cheap | October 09, 2010 at 12:49 AM
I looks delicious.I'd like to learn to cook but i'm afraid it's hard for me to make it.
Posted by: Replica Designer Handbags | October 29, 2010 at 03:57 AM
Thanks you put this paper in your blog.
Posted by: cheap UGG Boots | November 01, 2010 at 12:47 AM
Good post, I like it very much! I would like to leave a comment, because it gives more bloggers who participate and the opportunity to perhaps learn from each other.
Posted by: pandora bracelets | November 01, 2010 at 08:47 PM
Write very well, there are some others that resonate.
Posted by: air jordans | November 03, 2010 at 12:57 AM
At Christmas and always, may peace and love fill your heart, beauty fill your world, and contentment and joy fill your days.
Posted by: Supra Shoes | November 04, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Wirklich danke, ich finde so eine gute Seite, ich muss es aufschreiben, um meinen Freunden empfehlen
Posted by: thomas sabo charm club anhänger | November 06, 2010 at 02:10 AM
Ich schätze Sie! Lassen Sie mich sehen wie ein guter Artikel, und ich habe den Drang, einen Kommentar auf deinem Artikel habe ich etwas auf thomas sabo schmuck empfehlen machen
Posted by: pandora perlen | November 06, 2010 at 02:21 AM
knowing something of everything and everything of something.
Posted by: coach outlet | November 09, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Ha! Wooh! Thanks! A sign even. Cheers to your workmates.
A big boofy bloke with a bit of sparkle, that's me to a t that is.
Posted by: pandora-bracelets-australia | November 24, 2010 at 08:06 PM
Everyear,when the Christmas coming ,the gifts is neccesery.You will find many things.
Posted by: Wholesale Christmas Gifts | November 25, 2010 at 07:02 PM