When Dave and I barged the Midi Canal in France we started our journey In Toulouse. I made Dave eat cassoulet for dinner on our first night so that he could compare the one made in Castelnaudary. Cassoulet is a dish traditional to the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. No one is quite sure where cassoulet originates, but the two towns of Toulouse and Castelnaudary both claim it as their own. Dave had cassoulet again in Castelnaudary and for a third time when we returned to Toulouse at the end of our trip. This was not a dish I was going to try as at that stage of my life I would not have considered myself a bean eater. In the south of France the dish is served with way more beans than meat. On our last day in Toulouse we purchased a huge tin of of cassoulet and we served it for friends when we got back from our holiday. When Jo set this month’s I Made It challenge I decided that I would make the dish with fewer beans than is traditional. I was going to make it with chicken, as duck is so expensive but I changed my mind when I saw duck leg quarters at my local Food Lovers Market. It is a labour of love that I would do again as my cassoulet was extremely hearty.
Would you go on a barge holiday?
Cassoulet
Ingredients
for the duck confit
- 330 g duck fat
- 2 duck leg quarters
for the cassoulet
- 500 msl chicken stock
- 1 large onion cut into quarters
- 2 large carrots cut into thirds
- 70 g piece of bacon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to season
- 15 mls olive oil
- 2 Toulouse sausages
- 2 garlic cloves sliced
- 15 mls tomato paste
- 1 tin white beans 240g net weight
Instructions
for the duck confit
- Melt the duck fat in a sauté pan over a low heat
- Place the leg quarters into the melted fat skin side down and cook on the lowest setting for 30 minutes
- Turn over and cook for another hour
- Turn over and cook for another 30 minutes
- Remove from the fat and set aside
for the cassoulet
- Place the chicken stock into a large casserole dish
- Add the onion, carrots and bacon
- Season and bring to the boil
- Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for an hour
- Preheat the oven to 150°Celsius
- Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan
- Fry the duck until browned
- Remove and set aside, and then brown the sausage
- Remove and set aside and add the garlic to the pan
- Sauté for a minute
- Deglaze the pan with the tomato paste
- Add the beans to the frying pan and mix in with the tomato paste and garlic
- Now place all of the ingredients into the broth and adjust the seasoning
- Cook for 2 hours
to serve
- Place one duck leg quarter and one sausage into 2 bowls
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the beans
- Serve with the reduced broth
Notes
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
What I blogged:
- one year ago – Interview with Angeliqueca Roux
- two years ago – Clemengold and Cranberry Cake
- three years ago – Chilli Oil
Bloggers who took part this month:
Cupcakes and Couscous
This sounds fantastic Tandy! I bet it would also be nice and hearty with chicken.
Have a happy week ahead.
🙂 Mandy xo
I am so sure it would work just as well with chicken 🙂
Oh yum! That looks absolutely mouthwatering! I want a big plate of it! 🙂
Thanks Anne, a big plate is a necessity 🙂
You’ve made it look so easy! When I saw the challenge and did some research I got scared off by the list of ingredients and the days of preparation! I will definitely give your version a try 🙂 Xx
Let me know what you think once you have made it!
I cheat and make an ‘easy cassoulet’ without the duck confit. I’m sure yours is a lot nicer but mine is good for a quick supper too. Really feeling very hungry now 🙂
I think the cheat version is as good Sally!
I would love to go on a barge holiday down the European rivers… althou I would settle for a cassoulet. I love beans! 🙂
I have learnt to love beans as well Julie 🙂
Great job Tandy. It looks lovely. I have made it with chicken in the past but I am a big bean eater.
I am sure I will do a version of this again Tammy 🙂
I absolutely adore cassoulet but have only ever eaten it tinned from France (which is excellent) or in France – the last time was a few years ago in Carcassone. I think now I need to give it a go myself and yes, I’d love to go on a barge holiday…we could even take the pups 🙂
The pups would love it! There were so many dogs along the canal when we went 🙂
I’ve made a vegetarian cassoulet before – not very traditional, but extremely tasty 😉
That sounds fantastic Rachel!
Love cassoulet, I can never get enough of it. I only tend to have it in France as my partner is vegetarian, but I do bring back the odd can of duck confit for times when I need my fix! I love your recipe Tandy, but would add more beans 🙂
Thanks for the visit Claire, I think more beans are going to have to be in order for the next time I make it 🙂
hmmmm just trying to leave a comment, 2nd attempt and fingers crossed….
Your other comment is there – they are held in moderation so that I can make sure to reply to each and every one 🙂
Sounds traditional, I’ve never heard of it but it looks super delicious 🙂
Great recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you Uru 🙂
So.. which cassoulet did Dave love most, Tandy?? I bet yours, in the end, nothing beats homemade dishes prepared with love!! xx
HI Barbara, I think he liked the second one he had in Toulouse the most. He told me mine did not have enough beans 😉
I’m not a bean eater either but I have always been intrigued by the idea of cassoulet. I’ll have to try out your delicious looking version and see if it converts me 😉
At least my version does not have a lot of beans! Let me know what you think if you try it 🙂
MMMM,…a lovely recipe that I love to savour too,….Thanks,..now,..I am salivating. ☺️
Glad you like it Sophie 🙂
A wonderful hearty dish. I little bit of work but looks so delicious!
Thank you, it was worth the effort 🙂
Absolutely amazing recipe. I want to this try with chicken too!