Cheats Cassoulet Recipes

CHEAT'S FRENCH CASSOULET - CROCK POT OR LE CREUSET

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet - fry the bacon until nearly crisp & then add the onions, garlic, & carrots. Cook over a high heat until they are just soft on the outside & turning a golden colour. Drain well & remove from pan. Add to crock pot or Le Creuset casserole dish.
• Add sausages and brown - remove & add to onion mixture.
• Add pork chop pieces & brown - remove and add to above mixture.
• Make up chicken stock and add wine. Mix tomatoes in with stock & teaspoon of sugar.
• Pour stock and tomatoes over the cassoulet in crock pot or le creuset - add bouquet garni & give everything a good stir!
• Add the beans and stir well again.
• Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top and cook for up to 6 hours on high in crock pot or in le cresuet for 3 hours in a slow oven with the lid on, 150C/300°F.
• Half an hour before serving, take lid of le creuset to brown the top. It's difficult to brown in a crock pot, but it's not that essential to brown the top, as the reason behind the breadcrumbs is to soak up some of the juice & make a crust on top! If your crock pot is the type which you can put under the grill, then do so!
• Serve with mountains of fluffy mashed potatoes & stir-fried Savoy Cabbage.
• NOTE ON SAUSAGES:.
• Try to use very good quality high meat content sausages; in France Toulouse sausages are mainly used - they generally have a meat content of at least 85%. Good quality English style sausages are also good - I have a recipe posted for some English sausages: Recipe #190045.
• However, any kind of sausage can be used and in the past I have used: Choritzo, Italian Style, Chipolatas etc.
• The Pork chops can be replaced with chicken pieces, lamb steaks or Confit D'Canard - preserved duck, if you are lucky enought to have some!

CHEAT'S CASSOULET

Steps:

• Spray a large frying pan with olive oil spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and cook, turning, for 5 mins or until lightly browned. Add bacon and cook, stirring, for 5 mins or until golden. Add beans, stir-through sauce and 1/2 cup (125ml) water. Season and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 mins or until sauce thickens and sausages are cooked.
• Meanwhile, place the bread in a food processor. Process until coarse crumbs form. Spray a medium frying pan with olive oil spray and heat over high heat. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, tossing, for 3-4 mins or until golden.
• Sprinkle the cassoulet with the breadcrumbs to serve.