Beef and Bean Casserole With Cheese Biscuits

Delicious, hearty, and reheats well. From Canadian Living magazine.

• Ready In: 1 hr 50 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon  vegetable oil
• 1  onion, diced
• 1  sweet red pepper, diced
• 1 1⁄2 cups kielbasa, diced (about 8 oz.)
• 1  lb lean ground beef
• 2  teaspoons chili powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 680  ml tomato puree (passata)
• 1⁄4 cup molasses
• 3  tablespoons brown sugar, packed
• 1  tablespoon dry mustard
• 1  tablespoon wine vinegar
• 57  ounces navy beans, drained and rinsed

• Biscuits

• 2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1  tablespoon baking powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  pinch cayenne pepper
• 1⁄2 cup butter, chilled and cut into cubes
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 1 1⁄2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat and saute the onion, red pepper and kielbasa until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the beef, chili powder, salt and pepper and cook, breaking up the meat with the back of a spoon and stirring often, until the meat is no longer pink, about 6 minutes.
3. Stir in the tomato puree, 1/4 cup water, molasses, brown sugar, mustard and vinegar.
4. Stir in the beans and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes.
6. Pour into a 13" x 9" baking dish and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
7. To make the biscuits, whisk together in a bowl the flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper.
8. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until crumbly.
9. Drizzle in the buttermilk, stirring just until a soft sticky dough forms.
10. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead 6 times or just until smooth.
11. Roll out into a 10" x 8" rectangle and brush with 1 tablespoon more buttermilk.
12. Cut into 12 biscuits.
13. Arrange over the casserole and sprinkle with the cheese.
14. Bake in a 375 degree F oven until bubbly and the biscuits are golden brown and no longer doughy on the bottom, about 35 minutes.