How to Make Cassoulet

This traditional French Cassoulet Recipe is a hearty, delicious, meaty stew filled with duck, pork, sausage, and beans slowly cooked in a rich and flavorful tomato broth. Perfect with a loaf of crusty bread.

Cassoulet

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What goes in  Cassoulet?

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Key Ingredients: – Meats: Can vary, most frequently used are pork sausages, pork (skin, belly, or shoulder), mutton, goose, duck or partridge – Dried White BeanVegetables and Aromatics: Onion, garlic, carrot, tomatoes, and tomato paste. – Bouquet GarniBroth or StockDuck Fat Swipe up for the full list!

On Day 1, soak the beans in water overnight. Season duck legs with minced thyme, orange zest, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate the seasoned duck legs overnight. The next day, remove excess seasoning before continuing.

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How to Make Cassoulet

On Day 2, preheat the oven to 200°F. Drain and rinse the beans. In a large pot, melt duck fat and olive oil together. Bake duck legs in a baking dish, covered in heated oil and duck fat, for 4-5 hours at 200°F, basting every hour. Once done, cool to room temperature, remove from fat, and refrigerate overnight. Keep some reserved duck fat in a separate container in the fridge.

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How to Make Cassoulet

On Day 3, create a bouquet garni by bundling together parsley, thyme, cloves, rosemary, bay leaves, and peppercorns, either in a sachet or by wrapping them in cheesecloth and securing with twine.

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How to Make Cassoulet

In a large pot you will prepare the broth with a variety of ingredients. Bring to a boil, skimming off any scum that rises. Simmer over low heat until beans are tender. Remove pork belly and place on a clean cutting board.

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How to Make Cassoulet

To complete the dish, brown sausages in reserved duck fat until charred, then chop them along with the pork belly into large pieces. In another oven-safe pot, layer the meat at the bottom, followed by drained beans. Strain the broth from the first pot and pour enough to barely cover the beans. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

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How to Make Cassoulet

Bake the beans uncovered for 1 hour, break the crust on top with a spoon, add enough broth to cover, and repeat for two 30-minute cycles. Remove the pot from the oven and set the oven to broil. Prepare a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.

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How to Make Cassoulet

Broil the duck confit (baked duck legs) on a baking sheet for 5 minutes until golden. Then, transfer the duck to the pot with the beans. Serve with French bread and salad if desired.

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How to Make Cassoulet

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