Slow-Cooker French Cassoulet with Toulouse Sausage
A slow-cooker cassoulet is a hearty and flavorful dish that is perfect for a cold winter night. This recipe uses dried Great Northern beans, Toulouse sausage, bacon, and vegetables to create a rich and satisfying stew. The beans are cooked low and slow in a flavorful broth, and the sausage and bacon add a smoky and savory depth of flavor. The vegetables add sweetness and texture to the dish, and the tomatoes provide a bright acidity. Serve hot with crusty bread for a satisfying and comforting meal.
Cassoulet is a classic French dish that dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a hearty stew made with beans, meat, and vegetables, and is typically cooked in a heavy pot or Dutch oven. The name cassoulet comes from the Occitan word "cassolo," which means "saucepan." Cassoulet is a regional dish, and there are many different variations on the recipe. The most famous version of cassoulet is from the southwest of France, and it is made with white beans, Toulouse sausage, and duck confit. Other variations of cassoulet may include lamb, pork, or beef, and may be made with different types of beans, such as kidney beans or lima beans. Cassoulet is a slow-cooked dish, and it is typically simmered for several hours until the beans are tender and the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. Cassoulet is a hearty and flavorful dish that is perfect for a cold winter night. It is a great way to use up leftover meat and vegetables, and it is a delicious and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy.
Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 480 | Serves: 6
Ingredients
1 pound dried Great Northern beans
1 pound Toulouse sausage
1/2 pound bacon, diced
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
Instructions
Rinse the beans and place them in a slow cooker.
Add the sausage, bacon, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and tomatoes to the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the beans are tender.
Serve hot with crusty bread.
Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Why It Works
The slow-cooker method allows the beans to cook low and slow, which results in a tender and flavorful stew.
The combination of Toulouse sausage, bacon, and vegetables adds a rich and savory depth of flavor to the dish.
The tomatoes provide a bright acidity that balances out the richness of the stew.
Serving the stew with crusty bread allows you to soak up all of the delicious broth.