Pork and Lentil Cassoulet

Submitted by Annacia

"This variation on cassoulet uses lentils instead of the traditional white beans. In place of pork, you may substitute beef bottom round. *EDIT*I have had a problem with the lentil's cooking well in the crock pot. I suggest that you pre-soak them for an hour prior to adding them to the crock pot and cook on high and allowing for an extra 1/2 hours cooking time if it's needed."

 

• Ready In: 4hrs 20mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 3⁄4 lb boneless pork shoulder
• 1 large onion, cut into wedges
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons cooking oil
• 2 1⁄2 cups water
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes, cut up
• 4 medium carrots, and sliced 1/2 inch thick (2 cups) or 4 medium parsnips, sliced 1/2 inch thick (2 cups)
• 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 3⁄4 cup lentils
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
• 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• fresh rosemary sprig (optional)

directions

1. Trim fat from pork and cut meat into 3/4-inch cubes.
2. In a large nonstick skillet brown pork, onion, and garlic in hot oil.
3. Transfer mixture to a 3-1/2- to 4-quart electric crockery cooker, add water, undrained tomatoes, carrots or parsnips, celery, lentils, rosemary, bouillon granules, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours (12 hours if using the low-heat setting).
5. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig, if desired.
6. Make-Ahead Tip: Slice vegetables the night before; add seasonings. Cover and chill until ready to assemble in crockery cooker.

Reviews

[TishT]

We ended up putting this on high for 4 hours in the crockpot..husband didn't come home on time so I put it into the fridge to put back in the crockpot on low for 8 hours. For whatever reason, the lentils were still a bit chewy but the overall tast was good! Thanks for another easy meal :)

 

[Margie99]

I love a dish that already has some veggies and protein and this was a hit. It's easy to throw together and forget about until it starts making the house smell great. Thanks for a keeper.

 

[barefootandpregnant]

Love this recipe! I used parsnips, which added a more sweet flavor, which my husband wasn't crazy about; so maybe next time I will use the carrots instead. I loved it with the parsnips, though.

 

[Bone Man]

This makes a fine dinner, and for MORE than 4 if you make up some packaged egg noodles along with it. I could have easily served 6 or 8. Anyway, this excellent cassoulet is really easy to prepare -- put it together in your crock pot in the morning and goof off for the remainder of the day. I made the recipe exactly as Annacia said (using carrots), and my wife said it was outstanding and wants it again. Trust me, she doesn't tell me such things all that often. I found the flavor pretty bold and hearty too, a great dish for hungry guys who like "meat and potatoes". It has just the right amount of meat in it and the lentils are a great substitution for a recipe that would normally call for beans. Thank you, Annacia, for sharing your fine cassoulet recipe. More people should try "casSOULets," if they have not done so as yet, and this one would be a great place to start! pat, the old bone man. *.*

 

[ladypit]

We really liked this. I made a few adjustments (using very small lentils, only carrots (no parsnips or celery) and using chicken stock and chicken bouillon). I also added, because I needed to use it up, about a half a cup of pearl barley. So mine was thicker than yours but very yummy. Thanks.