Best Lighter Cassoulet Recipes

CASSOULET FOR TODAY

Cassoulet for Today image

French cassoulet is traditionally cooked for hours. This version of the rustic dish offers the same homey taste in less time. It's easy on the wallet, too. -Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 1h35m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 1-1/2 pounds)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cans (15 ounces each) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 pound smoked turkey kielbasa, chopped
3 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
TOPPING:
1/2 cup soft whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 garlic clove, minced

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325°. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. In a broiler-safe Dutch oven, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium heat; brown chicken on both sides. Remove from pan., In same pan, saute onion in remaining oil over medium heat until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Add wine; bring to a boil, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Add tomatoes, herbs and chicken; return to a boil., Transfer to oven; bake, covered, 30 minutes. Stir in beans and kielbasa; bake, covered, until chicken is tender, 20-25 minutes longer., Remove from oven; preheat broiler. Discard bay leaf; stir in bacon. Toss bread crumbs with parsley and garlic; sprinkle over top. Place in oven so surface of cassoulet is 4-5 in. from heat; broil until crumbs are golden brown, 2-3 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 394 calories, Fat 14g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 91mg cholesterol, Sodium 736mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 8g fiber), Protein 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

SLOW-COOKER CASSOULET

Slow-Cooker Cassoulet image

Many look down their noses at the slow cooker, but it's perfect for some dishes. Stews, for one. This sausage, duck and white bean stew is rich and hearty, and you can leave the dish wholly unattended for five to seven hours as it cooks. Brown the meat before you put it in the pot or not.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories dinner, soups and stews, main course

Time 5h

Yield At least 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

1/2 pound dried small white beans, like pea or navy
4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed, plus 1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 medium-large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
2 cups cored and chopped tomatoes, with their juice (canned are fine)
3 or 4 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1/4 pound slab bacon or salt pork, in 1 piece
4 sweet Italian sausages, about 3/4 pound
1 pound boneless pork shoulder
2 duck legs
Chicken, beef or vegetable stock, or water, or a mixture, as needed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup plain bread crumbs, optional
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Steps:

Combine beans, crushed garlic, onion, carrots, tomatoes, thyme, bay leaves and meats in a slow cooker, and turn heat to high. (If you like, brown sausage and duck legs in a skillet before adding.) Add stock or water to cover by 2 inches. Cover and cook until beans and meats are tender, 5 to 6 hours on high heat, 7 hours or more on low.
When done, add salt and pepper to taste, along with minced garlic. If you like, remove cassoulet from slow cooker, and place in a deep casserole; cover with bread crumbs and roast at 400 degrees until bread crumbs brown, about 15 minutes. Garnish and serve.

EASY AND DELICIOUS SLOW COOKER CASSOULET

Easy and Delicious Slow Cooker Cassoulet image

I am married to a chef, but I can't cook. So I make a lot of food in my slow cooker when it's my night to cook. We love France and French cooking, and this recipe is a wonderfully simple, elegant cassoulet that even I can make and he loves. Wonderful for cold nights and dinner parties. Double the recipe for leftovers - it melds overnight very well.

Provided by smart cookie

Categories World Cuisine Recipes European French

Time 4h45m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
6 slices turkey bacon
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped
¼ pound fully-cooked smoked sausage, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup tomato paste
3 (15 ounce) cans great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Steps:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook bacon until crisp and brown, turning often, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels; crumble when cool. Set bacon aside.
Cook and stir onion in the same skillet until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken, sausage, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and black pepper; cook until chicken pieces are browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste.
Transfer chicken mixture to a slow cooker and stir in crumbled turkey bacon, great Northern beans, and diced tomatoes. Cover the cooker, set on Low, and cook until cassoulet is thickened and the chicken is very tender, 4 to 5 hours. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 521.9 calories, Carbohydrate 52.9 g, Cholesterol 68.4 mg, Fat 18.9 g, Fiber 12.1 g, Protein 35.5 g, SaturatedFat 5.4 g, Sodium 641.2 mg, Sugar 4.7 g