Butternut Squash Cassoulet

Submitted by JenPo

"This is not vegetarian because it has pancetta in it. But it sounds so good, and I suppose it could be easily adapted."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs 45mins
• Ingredients: 16
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 1 head garlic
• 4 ounces pancetta, chopped
• 2 cups vertically sliced onions
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 4 1⁄2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (about 2 pounds)
• 1⁄2 cup vegetable broth
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 4 (16 ounce) cans cannellini or (16 ounce) cans other white beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 slices white bread
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 1⁄2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Remove skin from garlic without peeling or separating the cloves. Wrap it in foil. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. Let cool 10 minutes. Separate cloves, squeezing to extract the inside. Reserve half for another use.
3. In a large pot on medium high heat, saute the pancetta 5 minutes or until crisp. Remove pancetta and set aside. Add onion and 1 tablespoon oil to drippings in pan and sauté 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 25 minutes to brown onion, stirring frequently until tender. Add vinegar.
4. Raise oven to 375°.
5. Add garlic pulp, pancetta, squash, broth, thyme, salt, pepper, cannellini, and bay leaf to onions, stirring well.
6. Pulse bread in a food processor about 10 times to make 1 cup dry crumbs. Combine crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Sprinkle crumbs over squash mixture.
7. Cover and bake for 50 minutes or until squash is tender. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until topping is browned. Discard bay leaf. Sprinkle with parsley.
8. You can roast the garlic, carmelize the onions, and assemble the casserole all in advance if you want.