Duck and sausage cassoulet
Electus

Best recipe review

An odd combination

4.3/5

Quite a strange mixture; duck and sausages, but it works admirably.

Paul R Smith
The Fabulous Baker Brothers cassoulet, bread added and crisped
Servings:6 to 8 people
Calories per serving:872
Ready in:2 hours 35 minutes
Prep. time:35 minutes
Cook time:2 hours
Difficulty:Average difficulty
Recipe author:Chef
First published:17th January 2013

I'm no great fan of modern-day TV cookery programs. Jamie and Hugh are great but after that you need to go back to Floyd and Fanny to keep me happy. However, things changed last week when I saw the Fabulous Baker Brothers [Channel 4 UK]. Fresh lively presentation with relatively complex food, simply explained and cooked. I am a convert.

Cassoulet is typical of Aquitaine, South West France, though can probably be found throughout Southern France. In French shops and markets you would find the beans in Kilner-type jars, sealed with a layer of duck fat rather than being sold in tins.

I have adjusted the quantities, cooking temperatures and times from both the tv program and the Channel 4 recipe, see the comments page for my reasons.


Ingredients

Printable 🖨 shopping 🛒 list & 👩‍🍳 method for this recipe


Mise en place

  • Preheat the oven to 200° C (400° F - gas 6), [fan oven 180° C & reduce cooking time by 10 mins per hour]

Method

  1. Pour a splash of olive oil into a large roasting pan on a hob at a high heat. Add a grind of black pepper, add the duck and sausages and use it like a huge frying pan to brown the meat. This may take 10 to 15 minutes.
  2. Remove the browned meat and set to one side.
  3. Slit the chilli length-wise but don't disturb the seeds.
  4. With the heat still on, add the herbs, chilli, onions, pancetta, garlic bulb halves, cut side down. Season with salt and pepper and fry for 5 minutes, stirring now and then.
  5. De-glaze the pan with the wine and the sherry vinegar.
  6. Add the beans and chopped tomatoes and mix well.
  7. Arrange the duck and sausages on the top, duck skin-side up. Pour over the chicken stock and jiggle the roasting tray to bed everything down.
  8. Roast uncovered for 1.5 hours, checking a few times to see that it's not drying out. see comments
  9. After 1.5 hours, tear the baguette into small pieces and push into the tray so that the bread soaks up all the fat and juices.
  10. Return to the oven and roast for 30 minutes more.

Serving suggestions

On the TV program they suggested serving with a green salad. I'm not sure that would work very well. We found it fine on its own, though it might be nice with some boiled broccoli.

Variations

See also

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