EASY CASSOULET

EASY CASSOULET image

Yield 6 hungry people

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 lb small white or navy beans
one medium onion
twelve finger-sized carrots
two stalks celery
8 cloves garlic
small bunch fresh thyme
1 bay leaf broken in half
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3 slices very lean bacon (may use Canadian bacon)
two sweet/hot Italian sausages
1/2 lb cooked ham cubed in 1" cubes
1 can whole tomatoes with juice
1/2 C white wine
1/2 C water
2 cups "Better than bouillon" broth--which is two teaspoons of the product and two cups boiling water
1/2 t. black pepper. Note that this recipe does not have the breadcrumb crust. Thus it gluten-free.

Steps:

Soak the beans overnight in cold water. Rinse well and discard floating or discolored beans. In the morning, preheat oven to 425F. Place the sausages, the bacon and the ham in a baking pan, cover with the minced garlic, 1 T. Olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 45 minutes or until nicely browned, and the bacon is thoroughly done. Meanwhile, drain and rinse the beans. To the beans add 1 can tomatoes with the juice, 1/2 C wine, water, and chicken bouillon, reconstituted with hot water. Bring the beans to a simmer. Add the herbs and bay leaf. Simmer for 45 minutes while the meats are roasting. At the same time, in another sauce pan, place 2t, olive oil, the onion coarsely chopped, the celery cut into 1" slices and the small carrots. Cook together until the onion is golden and the celery is limp. The carrots will not be soft--about ten minutes When that is done, put the beans in an oven proof dish. Add the meats and the vegetables to the beans and stir just a little. The liquid should be just over the top of the mixture, about 1/4" . Cover with a double layer of aluminum foil or the lid of the casserole dish. Place in the oven which you have allowed to cool to 300F. Leave for three hours. After three hours, test the beans. Take a bean on a spoon and blow gently on it. If the "skin" splits at once, they are done. They should never be mushy. Serve with crusty French bread, and a hearty wine. A light salad with a vinaigrette dressing makes the perfect accompaniment.