Cassoulet


Cassoulet
Cassoulet is typical, even emblematic, of southern French cuisine. It is a "slow food" casserole in which meat and vegetables, particualrly dried beans, are cooked together for a long time. Here is a simplified version of this famous dish.
232 K 3.9/5 (60 reviews)
Grade this recipe:
Keywords:
Last modified on: September 17th 2021
For this recipe: Comment Send to a friend Ask me a question Follow Printable Diaporama
For 8 people, you will need:

Change to the quantities for:
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 12 hours 60 min.
Cooking: 3 hours 15 min.
All in all: 16 hours 9 min.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time

Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - ⌛ 12 hours
Cassoulet : Stage 1

Beans

Leave 1 kg 500 g white beans to soak overnight in cold water.

Stage 2 - ⌛ 5 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 2
The next day, drain and blanch for 3 minutes in salted boiling water.

Stage 3 - ⌛ 3 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 3
Drain the beans again.

Stage 4 - ⌛ 25 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 4
Prepare the carrots and cut into small pieces.

Prepare the leek and chop finely.

Peel the garlic cloves and chop finely.

Stage 5 - ⌛ 10 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 5

Stage 6 - ⌛ 3 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 6
Melt 50 g goose fat in a large pan over medium heat.

Add the chopped onion, salt and perpper and cook without colouring.

Stage 7 - ⌛ 5 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 7
Add the carrots, leek, garlic and bouquet garni.

Stir well and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Stage 8 - ⌛ 10 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 8
Pour in 2 litres water, add 2 chicken stock cubes and bring to the boil.

Stage 9 - ⌛ 30 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 9
Leave uncovered to simmer for 30 minutes.

Stage 10 - ⌛ 3 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 10
Remove and discard the bouquet garni. Add 50 g tomato paste, mix and then add the beans.

Leave to simmer uncovered for around 30 minutes until the beans are just tender.

Drain the beans and set aside the stock.

Stage 11 - ⌛ 10 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 11

The cassoulet

Put the pan or casserole you are going to use for the cassoulet on high heat and fry the duck confit until browned on all sides.

Remove the duck pieces and set aside.

Stage 12 - ⌛ 10 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 12
Leave the duck fat in the pan and use this to fry the bacon and sausage, cut into pieces.

Set aside.

Stage 13 - ⌛ 5 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 13
Prepare to cook the cassoulet: put a first layer of beans in the bottom of the pan.

Stage 14 - ⌛ 5 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 14
Cover with a layer of meat.

Stage 15 - ⌛ 5 min.
Cassoulet : Stage 15
Cover the meat with a second layer of beans.

Stage 16 - ⌛ 2 hours
Cassoulet : Stage 16
Add stock (from stage 10) to cover with about 1 cm (1/2 inch) over the top of the beans.

Cover and cook in the oven at 360°F (180°C) for around 2 hours.

Stage 17
Cassoulet : Stage 17
Serve each guest with a generous mix of beans and the different meats.
Remarks
The proportions of this recipe are not rigid, so you can add a little more or a little less of something, according to your taste.

For the dried beans, use whatever fairly large white beans you can get. A good French variety is 'lingot du nord'.

For the duck confit, if you are using legs, allow 2 per person.

For the sausage, use a good variety that is available where you live (I prefer using smoked sausage, but this is a matter of taste).

Cassoulet is one of those dishes that just gets better each time you reheat it, so don't hesitate to make a large quantity for reheating on another day or for freezing.
And to drink?
A red wine from the south-west of France. My preference is for a Cahors to accompany this dish.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, protected by plastic film.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
Proteins (gr)Carbohydrates (gr)Fats (gr)Energy value (in k-calories)Energy value (in k-joules)
Whole recipe410 RDI=160 %460 RDI=40 %850 RDI=130 %11,190 RDI=560 %46,870 RDI: 560 %
Per 100 g6 RDI=3 %7 RDI=1 %10 RDI=2 %180 RDI=9 %760 RDI: 9 %
Per person50 RDI=20 %60 RDI=5 %110 RDI=20 %1,400 RDI=70 %5,860 RDI: 70 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman
Possible allergens in this recipe: Celery
How much will it cost?
  • For 8 people : 27.75 €
  • Per person : 3.50 €

Change currency:

Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Other recipes you may also like
Toasted flaked almonds
Toasted flaked almonds
Toasted flaked almonds are the perfect finishing touch for desserts, ice creams in particular, because of their delightful crunch.
March 9th 2020343 K4.8 30 min.
Strawberry Charlotte
Strawberry Charlotte
This is a faily quick charlotte recipe. It begins, as usual, by soaking finger biscuits in syrup, in this case flavoured with lime. The charlotte is then assembled with alternate layers of Chantilly (whipped cream) and strawberries.
June 17th 2012159 K5 3 hours 9 min.
Plum and hazelnut crumble
Plum and hazelnut crumble
Plums and hazelnuts always go really well together, as you'll find in this late-summer crumble.
September 15th 202136 K 1 hour 20 min.
Parmesan cauliflower cheese
Parmesan cauliflower cheese
In this recipe, the cauliflower is cooked first in milk and this is used to make a Parmesan-bechamel sauce. The dish is topped with more Parmesan before being browned in the oven.
December 1st 202139 K 1 hour 35 min.
Avocado mayonnaise
Avocado mayonnaise
This version of mayonnaise, as creamy as ever but with a delicious avocado flavor, is a perfect accompaniment to fish, vegetables and even canapés.
July 17th 202430 K 10 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com

Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-12-21)

*Your e-mail Your first name or nickname
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Posted by:
I am not a leaving thing

Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.

Back to top of page