Ham And Bean Cassoulet With Cornmeal Dumplings Food

HAM & BEANS WITH DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• 1. Wash the beans and discard any irregular or discolored ones; add 2 quarts cold water and soak overnight.
• 2. Drain the old water and add 2 quarts fresh cold water into a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Place beans, ham, salt, peppercorns, and bay leaf into pot; cover. Simmer on low heat for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Add onion for the last half-hour.
• 3. If using ham bone, remove and cut the meat off; add ham to soup. If using ham steak cubes, leave in soup. Season to taste.
• 4. FOR DUMPLINGS: Mix flour, baking powder, and salt into mixing bowl. Combine milk and vegetable oil separately. Add all at once to dry mixture, stirring just until moistened.
• 5. Turn heat to medium to high under beans and bring them back to a boil. Drop batter from tablespoon atop bubbling beans. Cover tightly; let mixture return to boiling. Reduce heat (don't lift cover); simmer 12 to 15 minutes. Makes about 10 dumplings. Serve with plenty of cornbread.

HAM AND BEAN CASSOULET WITH CORNMEAL DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• The night before, place dry beans into a pot, cover with enough water to reach 3-4 inches above beans, and allow to soak overnight.
• When ready to begin the cassoulet, drain the beans, rinse, and pick out any odd-looking bits.
• In a large dutch oven or stew pot, heat the olive oil and saute the onions until translucent and fragrant. Add the ham and garlic and continue to cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Pour both boxes of chicken broth into the pot followed by the beans, carrots, and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cover, stirring occasionally, 2 - 2.5 hours until beans are very soft.
• When the cassoulet is almost done, prepare the dumplings. Mix together the first 6 ingredients and then using a pair of forks or a pastry blender, cut the cold butter into the mixture until it is coarse and crumbly. Add the buttermilk and mix until just combined.
• Drop the cornmeal mixture by heaping tablespoons into the cassoulet. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes until dumplings are dry to the touch.

HAM SOUP AND CORNMEAL DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• 1. Place ham bone in 6 cups water and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper to taste. Bring to boil and simmer for 45 minutes. Remove ham bone and discard.
• 2. Add green onions, salt, black pepper, ham, and parsley flakes to broth. Simmer one hour.
• 3. Mix ingredients for dumplings together. Dipping by teaspoonfuls, gently roll batter in the palms of your hands into approximately 1-inch balls; drop into boiling soup liquid. Make sure each dumpling is completely covered in liquid by shaking pot gently. Do not stir.
• 4. Cook 10 minutes uncovered; then cover and cook on low heat for 25 minutes.

EASY FRENCH CASSOULET WITH WINE, BEANS, SAUSAGE, HAM AND HERBS

Steps:

• In a large oven-proof skillet such as a Le Creuset or Dutch oven cook sausage, onion, and garlic over medium-low heat until meat is lightly browned and onion is tender; drain off fat.
• Add ham, parsley, and bay leaf; mix well. Stir in undrained beans, wine, and cloves.
• Bake, covered, at 325°F for 45 minutes.
• Uncover and bake 40 to 45 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf.
• Serve in bowls with butter and a baguette or hot corn bread, if desired.
• Makes 6 servings.

HAM AND BEAN CLASSIC FRENCH CASSOULET

Steps:

• Rinse and sort beans. In 6-quart slow cooker, combine beans and remaining ingredients; stir to combine. Cook until beans are very tender, about 7 to 8 hours on high heat setting. Remove and discard bay leaf. Ladle into serving bowls. NOTE: the Italian seasoning and the fennel are a substitute for herbs de Provence. If you have herbs de Provence, use 1.5 tsp of that and eliminate the Italian seasoning and fennel.

CORNMEAL DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Prepare dumplings while turnip greens are cooking.
• Slowly stir cornmeal and salt into boiling water.
• Cook and stir for 2 minutes, remove from heat and let cool.
• Sift together the flour and baking powder.
• Dissolve baking soda into sour milk.
• Alternately add flour and milk to cornmeal.
• Then add the egg and beat the mixture for 1 minute.
• Drop by spoonfuls on top of turnip greens. Cover and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes.
• To serve remove dumplings with slotted spoon to a deep serving platter. Drain the greens and arrange on serving platter. Pour the pot likker over the dumplings. Enjoy.

SMOKED HAM HOCK CASSOULET

Steps:

• Place the beans and the water in a large pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover partly and simmer until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Drain and set aside. Heat the oil in a large, wide ovenproof pot over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute until golden, about 7 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Stir in the tomatoes, thyme, salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the beans, sage and wine. Add the ham hock bones, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the bones from the pan and stir in the meat. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top and dot with butter. Bake for 15 minutes. Divide among 6 plates and serve.