Indulge in the Exquisite Flavors of Chicken Cassoulet: A Culinary Journey of French Tradition
Embark on a culinary adventure with chicken cassoulet, a delectable French casserole that captures the essence of rustic elegance. This hearty dish, originating from the southwestern region of France, is a symphony of flavors and textures that promises a satisfying and memorable dining experience. Our comprehensive guide presents a collection of carefully curated chicken cassoulet recipes, each offering unique variations on this classic dish. From the traditional slow-cooked cassoulet to modern interpretations with a twist, these recipes cater to diverse tastes and preferences. Get ready to tantalize your palate with the rich, savory, and aromatic flavors of chicken cassoulet, a dish that embodies the culinary heritage of France. Explore the diverse range of recipes within this article, each promising a culinary masterpiece that will leave you craving for more.
TRADITIONAL FRENCH CASSOULET RECIPE
To make traditional French cassoulet at home, substitute fresh chicken for duck confit, build flavor in the beans, and add gelatin to form a crisp crust.
Provided by J. Kenji López-Alt
Categories Mains Sausage Soups and Stews
Time 16h25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cover beans with 3 quarts water and add salt. Stir to combine and let sit at room temperature overnight. Drain and rinse beans and set aside.
- Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Place stock in a large liquid measuring cup and sprinkle gelatin over the top. Set aside. Heat duck fat (if using) in a large Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering. Add salt pork and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a large bowl, leaving rendered fat in Dutch oven, and set aside. (If not using duck fat, cook pork with no additional fat.)
- Season chicken pieces with pepper (do not add salt) and place skin side down in now-empty pan. Cook without moving until well-browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip chicken pieces and continue cooking until lightly browned on second side, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer to bowl with salt pork.
- Add sausages and cook, turning occasionally, until well-browned on both sides. Transfer to bowl with salt pork and chicken. Drain all but 2 tablespoons fat from pot.
- Add onions to pot and cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Cook until onions are translucent but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add drained beans, carrot, celery, garlic, parsley, bay leaves, cloves, and stock/gelatin mixture. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce to low, cover Dutch oven, and cook until beans are almost tender but retain a slight bite, about 45 minutes.
- Using tongs, remove carrots, celery, parsley, bay leaves, and cloves and discard. Add meats to pot and stir to incorporate, making sure that the chicken pieces end up on top of the beans with the skin facing upwards. Beans should be almost completely submerged. Transfer to oven and cook, uncovered, until a thin crust forms on top, about 2 hours, adding more water by pouring it carefully down the side of the pot, as necessary, to keep beans mostly covered.
- Break crust with a spoon and shake pot gently to redistribute. Return to oven and continue cooking, stopping to break and shake the crust every 30 minutes until you reach the 4 1/2 hour mark. Return to oven and continue cooking undisturbed until the crust is deep brown and thick, about 5 to 6 hours total. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 612 kcal, Carbohydrate 39 g, Cholesterol 110 mg, Fiber 9 g, Protein 36 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, Sodium 2651 mg, Sugar 3 g, Fat 35 g, ServingSize Serves 6 to 8, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
CLASSIC FRENCH CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE CASSOULET RECIPE
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Place the beans in a large saucepan and cover them with cold water. Bring the beans to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook them until they begin to turn tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper to the beans and cook until the liquid has absorbed, about 25 additional minutes.
- Remove the beans from the heat, drain and discard any other liquid, and set the beans aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the lardons for 5 minutes, until they turn brown. Transfer them to a plate.
- Add the onions to the pan and sauté them for 10 minutes, until they turn light golden brown. Transfer them to the plate with the lardons.
- Brown the sausage and transfer it to a bowl. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Drain all but 4 tablespoons of the fat from the skillet. Add the chicken breast pieces to the fat and brown them over medium-high heat. Transfer the chicken to the bowl with the sausage.
- Brown the chicken legs in the skillet. Then transfer them to the bowl.
- Combine the lardons, onions, sausage, chicken pieces and legs, tomatoes, wine, chicken stock, bouquet garni, garlic, tomato paste, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper in a large casserole dish.
- Cover with a lid or foil and bake the casserole for 25 minutes.
- Add the carrots to the pan, cover, and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Add the reserved white beans to the hot casserole and gently stir the mixture.
- In a small bowl, toss the breadcrumbs, parsley, and thyme with the melted butter. Sprinkle the seasoned breadcrumbs over the casserole.
- Bake it, uncovered, for 1 hour.
- Discard the bouquet garni and serve the cassoulet hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 620 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 172 mg, Fiber 4 g, Protein 54 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Sodium 1372 mg, Sugar 6 g, Fat 32 g, ServingSize Makes 12 portions, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
EASY AND DELICIOUS SLOW COOKER CASSOULET
I am married to a chef, but I can't cook. So I make a lot of food in my slow cooker when it's my night to cook. We love France and French cooking, and this recipe is a wonderfully simple, elegant cassoulet that even I can make and he loves. Wonderful for cold nights and dinner parties. Double the recipe for leftovers - it melds overnight very well.
Provided by smart cookie
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European French
Time 4h45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook bacon until crisp and brown, turning often, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels; crumble when cool. Set bacon aside.
- Cook and stir onion in the same skillet until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken, sausage, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and black pepper; cook until chicken pieces are browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste.
- Transfer chicken mixture to a slow cooker and stir in crumbled turkey bacon, great Northern beans, and diced tomatoes. Cover the cooker, set on Low, and cook until cassoulet is thickened and the chicken is very tender, 4 to 5 hours. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 521.9 calories, Carbohydrate 52.9 g, Cholesterol 68.4 mg, Fat 18.9 g, Fiber 12.1 g, Protein 35.5 g, SaturatedFat 5.4 g, Sodium 641.2 mg, Sugar 4.7 g
ELEGANT CHICKEN CASSOULET
This is a great company dish....easy and delicious.SOurce unknown
Provided by Lynnda Cloutier
Categories Chicken
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- 1. preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 12 x 8" baking dish. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté onion, celery and mushrooms in reserved bacon drippings until tender. In a large bowl, mix soup, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Add chicken, bacon, and sautéed vegetables to bowl. Mix well. Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.
- 2. Remove casserole from oven. Arrange biscuits over casserole. Sprinkle tops of biscuits lightly with paprika. Return to oven and bake 20 to 25 minutes longer. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired.
VALERIE'S COMFY CASSOULET
Provided by Valerie Bertinelli
Categories main-dish
Time 4h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- For the cassoulet: Combine the dried beans, 1 tablespoon salt and 8 cups hot water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and cover with a lid. Let sit for 1 hour, until the beans are "al dente" (softened but still with some bite). Drain the beans and rinse under cold water.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat, add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the bacon lardons. Slowly render the fat out of the bacon and cook until crispy, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Drain the bacon on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
- Increase the heat to medium and add the sausages to the rendered bacon fat. Brown on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Drain on the baking sheet.
- Season the chicken thighs and drumsticks generously on both sides with salt and pepper. In two batches, add the chicken to the Dutch oven and cook until deep golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Drain on the baking sheet.
- Stir the onions, carrots, fennel and celery into the rendered fat; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until softened, 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste; cook for another 2 minutes, until evenly combined with the vegetables and just beginning to toast. Add the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, white beans, parsley, rosemary and thyme. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.
- Cut the sausages on the bias into thin rounds and add them to the pot along with the bacon, stirring to combine. Transfer the cassoulet to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with the chicken thighs and drumsticks; drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the chicken.
- Place the baking dish on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake until the top of the cassoulet turns a rich, deep brown color, the liquid has reduced and the beans have risen to the surface, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
- For the breadcrumb topping: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, add the breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toast the breadcrumbs until golden brown, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest and parsley.
- To serve: Garnish the cassoulet with the breadcrumb topping and some fennel fronds. Serve immediately!
ELEGANT CHICKEN
This is so easy! I use it when I'm having people over for dinner because it can easily be doubled to feed a large gathering or dinner party. Once you put it in the oven, you can forget about it for 2 hours and move on to something else. It's always a huge hit with our guests! Serve over rice and enjoy!
Provided by Kathy H.
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Chicken Breast Recipes
Time 2h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
- Line the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with slices of chipped beef. Wrap bacon slices around chicken breasts, and place on top of chipped beef. In a medium bowl, mix together condensed soup and sour cream. Pour sour cream mixture over chicken breasts, and sprinkle with paprika.
- Bake in preheated oven for 2 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 698.2 calories, Carbohydrate 7.5 g, Cholesterol 161.5 mg, Fat 54.6 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 42.5 g, SaturatedFat 22.4 g, Sodium 1368 mg, Sugar 1.2 g
CHICKEN CASSOULET
This is a southwest France classic. It's a rich, hearty stew. Traditional cassoulets can take days to make. Here, Sara Moulton created an easier version for the regular home cook.
Provided by LifeIsGood
Categories Chicken Thigh & Leg
Time 1h5m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat 1 T olive oil in a large skillet with an ovenproof handle, over high heat until hot. Reduce the heat to med-high. Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste and add it to the skillet, skin side down; cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until browned. Turn the chicken and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes or until browned.
- Meanwhile, finely chop the onion (about 1 C). Finely chop the rosemary (about 1 1/2 t) and the thyme (about 1 1/2 t). Combine the rosemary and thyme in a bowl. Press the garlic (about 1 T plus 1 t) into the bowl. Rinse and drain the beans then mash 1 C of the beans into a separate small bowl with a fork.Set the rest of the whole beans aside. Cut the kielbasa in half lengthwise and then crosswise into 1/2 inch thick pieces.
- Remove the chicken to a plate and drain off all but 1 T of the fat from the skillet. Reduce heat to med-low and add the onions and cook for 5 minutes or until it has softened. Add the herb and garlic mixture and cook for 2 minutes. Add the red wine and simmer over low heat until it has reduced by half.
- Return the chicken to the skillet along with any juices that have accumulated on the plate. Add the kielbasa, chicken stock, both the mashed beans and the whole beans and the mustard. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the chicken has just cooked through. While the chicken is cooking, preheat the broiler.
- Toss the bread crumbs with the remaining 1 T olive oil. Remove the lid from the skillet and season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the top. Put the skillet under the broiler, about 4 inches from the heat source, and broil for 45 to 60 seconds, or until the crumbs are golden. When you serve the cassoulet, sprinkle the toasted bread crumbs over each serving.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially the chicken and the sausage. This will make a big difference in the final flavor of the dish.
- Brown the chicken and sausage before adding them to the slow cooker. This will help to develop their flavor and prevent them from becoming dry.
- Use a variety of beans in your cassoulet. This will add different textures and flavors to the dish.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices. Cassoulet is a very forgiving dish, so you can adjust the flavors to your own liking.
- Serve cassoulet with a crusty piece of bread or a side of rice.
Conclusion:
Cassoulet is a hearty and delicious stew that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is also a very versatile dish, so you can easily adjust it to your own liking. With a little planning, you can have a delicious cassoulet on the table in no time. So next time you're looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, give cassoulet a try.
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