French Cassoulet! 🍲

https://diethood.com/easy-chicken-cassoulet/

Traditional Cassoulet takes hours to make. I don’t knock this at all. Here’s a brief look at its origins. Cassoulet like Borscht and Chicken Cacciatori were created by peasants who needed meals that were hardy and would keep them filled up. Cassoulet is a dish thst was so good that the bourgeois class stole it to make it theirs and that’s the version you would see if you go to a five star restaurant in France (or America and/or Canada). For this post we are going to focus on the peasant version.

There are three types of Cassoulet and I will break them down below:

Castelnaudary is the simplist and purist in flavor, made with beans, fresh pork, ham, sausages and pork skin. Yeah! (De Melogue F. (2020) French Cooking for Beginners).

Next is Carcassonne adds lamb to Castelnaubary. Sometimes there is partridges added. (De Melogue F. (2020) French Cooking for Beginners).

Toulouse’s version contributes lamb, bacon, sausage and goose confit to the mix. (De Melogue F. (2020) French Cooking for Beginners).

Back to Katerina’s version. It’s similar to the French Peasant style. Difference is she uses canned white beans instead of cooking them at home. Hey! Many people don’t have time to hang out over a stove for hours. Or more of when they are home, we just want to relax. Katerina’s version is perfect.

What to serve with this incredible dish? Crudites with Four Dips. What to hell is that? Think veggies with four dips. First dip is an Aioli (Fancy Mayo), Poischichade (Humus), Tomatade (Tomato Dip), and Olivade (Black Olive Dip). Sounds more complicated. It’s not. Google ghis plate and you’ll understand why I recommend it.

Bread! Hell yeah! A nice crusty rustic bread would be perfect. Rip into that bread like a savage. A rustic bread will slop up the juices from this dish.

Dessert. I make a mousse type of dessert that’s so easy. Take your favorite pudding mix with two bowls of whipped topping. Place in a bowl or small bowls.

Drink could mocktails for children and a wine for adults. White wine white white meat and a nice dark red for red meats.