Cozy Cassoulet

aderendal's Note:

This is a soul-satisfying dish. It is a great remedy for the winter blahhs and perfect for when you feel like entertaining your closest friends. Great with a crusty bread and salad.

• Total Time: 3 hrs
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 lb dried great northern beans
• 2 ½ quarts water
• ½ lb salt pork , with skin
• 3 cloves garlic , crushed
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots , cut in half
• 2 stalks celery , halved
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 6 -7 lbs chicken
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 1 lb smoked sausage
• 2 lbs boneless pork chops
• 1 medium onion , chopped
• 4 cloves garlic , minced
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 (14 ½ ounce) can diced tomatoes , undrained
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Sort and wash beans.
2. Place in 8-qt ovenproof dutch oven.
3. Cover with water 2 inches above beans and let stand 8hrs or overnight.
4. Drain.
5. Add 2 1/2qt water to beans.
6. Stir in salt pork, garlic and next five ingredients.
7. Bring to a boil, cover and cook 2hrs or until beans are tender, adding water if necessary.
8. Remove and discard salt pork, onion, carrots, celery and bay leaf.
9. Set aside.
10. Place chicken in a roasting pan, sprinkle with salt and 2tsp pepper.
11. Bake at 350* for 2hours or until thermometer reads 180*.
12. Cool completely, reserving 3tbs drippings.
13. Cut chicken into serving size pieces and set aside.
14. Cook sausage in skillet over med-high heat until browned.
15. Remove and set aside.
16. Add pork chops and cook until browned on both sides.
17. Remove and set aside, reserving drippings.
18. Add reserved chicken drippings to drippings in skillet.
19. Add chopped onion and garlic.
20. Cook over med-high heat stirring constantly, until tender.
21. Add wine and cook until reduced by half.
22. Add diced tomatoes, 1/2tsp thyme and 2 tsp pepper.
23. Stir into beans.
24. Spoon half of bean mixture, sausage, chicken and pork chops into dutch oven, repeat layers.
25. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
26. Bake at 325* for 1 1/2hours.
27. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
28. *Note-you might want to drain the beans a bit before adding tomato mixture or it is too liquidy.

Reviews

[Secret Agent]

Well this is comfort food at it's best. Yummy, easy and feeds a crowd. It's very forgiving if you cheat on the ingredients (try chorizo)or if you let it cook a little longer. It's so good! I add a Tablespoon of Montreal Steak Seasoning in place of the salt and pepper. I use a huge cast iron dutch oven that is older than the hills and it comes out PERFECT! I am going to send this to a couple of my Agents who are work at home Mom's!

[Countrywife]

I've used half of everything. A half lb of beans, 1 chicken, 2 big fat sausages, 4 little chops, half the tomatos and because we like carrots, a whole 4 carrots. So, we have dinner for tomorrow, too and a couple of lunches. Not a problem, cooking just enough for two doesn't allow much room to get all the flavors. This came out wonderful. We've had a cedar fire going all day and it's rainy but not cold, so we've had the doors and windows open. With the wonderful cooking smells, the whole neighborhood is sure to be salivating. This is delicious and easy. There are quite a few steps, but it doesn't need tending in between times. Clearly written and easy to follow. A good recipie for a family or company; for when you'd have quite a few mouths to feed.