If you're looking for a dish to really satisfy your carnivorous cravings, then this stunning recipe for faux cassoulet is just the dinner for you. This meal is packed with your favorite proteins; calling for chicken thighs, smoked sausage and tender pork ribs. Somewhere between a casserole and a stew, this Cajun twist on the traditional French dish offers up the perfect meal to warm your homes this winter!
A fantastic dinner to prepare on the weekends for when you're busy around the house, this dish may take quite a bit of time to procure from start to finish. Luckily, the majority of the preparation and cooking time is completely hands-off, (you will find that more effort is exerted in trying to resist the incredible aromas coming from the kitchen than it is from tiring yourself out in the kitchen). Whenever you choose to make this hearty concoction, this is certainly a dish not to be missed!
faux cassoulet
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients1lb (450g) chicken thighs
1 cup (235ml) chicken stock
2 tbsp oil
1 lb (450g) pork ribs, cut into 2-inch pieces
16oz (450g) smoked sausage, sliced
1 onion, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 14oz (395g) cans diced tomatoes
2 14oz (395g) cans haricot beans or white beans, drained
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup (235g) fine breadcrumbs
2 tbsp melted butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Directions1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 3-quart casserole dish or 9" x 13" casserole pan. Place the pork ribs into the bottom of the dish. Arrange the chicken thighs and the sausage into the bottom of the casserole dish and spread the meat out as evenly and dispersed as possible. Season with salt and pepper. Place the meat into the oven and cook for 25 minutes, turning as necessary, until browned. Remove from the oven and set to one side. Turn down the oven temperature to 300°F.
2. While the meat is in the oven, in a large frying pan, heat up the oil and quickly saute the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, beans, chicken stock and tomatoes along with the Italian and Cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil and then remove from heat (5 - 8 minutes). Pour the sauce over the meat in the casserole.
3. Quickly mix together the melted butter and breadcrumbs and spread it over the casserole. Place the casserole, uncovered, into the 300°F oven and bake for 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Leave it to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Pro tip: You can speed up the first step of this dish by browning your meat in a skillet instead of in the oven. This will generally take about 8-12 minutes. Once browned, place the meat into the bottom of the casserole dish, and continue on to step 2.
