Italian Cassoulet Italian Chili Food

VALERIE'S COMFY CASSOULET

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!

CROCK POT ITALIAN CHILI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and sausage over medium heat until no longer pink.
• In crock pot, combine the tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, red pepper, water, celery, broth, chili powder, Italian seasoning, sugar, garlic and salt.
• Drain beef mixture and add to the crock pot.
• Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until vegetables are tender.
• Add the beans, mushrooms, and parsley.
• Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Serve with cheese if desired.

SWEET ITALIAN CHILI

Steps:

• Brown ground beef in a dutch oven.
• Drain and return to pan.
• Add bell pepper, parsley, onion and celery.
• Saute until onion is clear, approximately 5 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients and simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

CASSOULET WITH LOTS OF VEGETABLES (MARK BITTMAN)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the meat, and cook, turning as needed, until the meat is deeply browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat.
• Turn the heat to medium and add the garlic, leeks or onions, carrots, celery, and zucchini or cabbage; and sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, their liquid, the reserved meat, and the herbs and bring to a boil. Add the beans; bring to a boil again, stirring occasionally, then reduce the heat so the mixture bubbles gently but continuously. Cook for about 20 minutes, adding the liquid when the mixture gets thick and the vegetables are melting away.
• Fish out the meat and remove the bones and skin as needed. Chop into chunks and return to the pot along with the cayenne. Cook another minute or two to warm through, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary and serve.
• Slow-Cooked Cassoulet. Start with dried beans. After browning the meat in Step 1, leave it in the pan and add 1/2 pound dry white beans (they'll cook faster if you soak them first) and enough water or stock to just cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for about an hour. Meanwhile, in a separate pan with another 2 tablespoons of olive oil, cook the vegetables as directed in Step 2. Add them to the pot of beans along with the tomatoes and herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle bubble and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, adding more liquid as necessary to keep them moist. This will take anywhere from another 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the age of your dried beans.

ITALIAN CHILI

Steps:

• Brown sausage in large Dutch oven. Cook until no longer pink.
• Add onion and bell pepper and cook until vegetables are soft.
• Add minced garlic, beans, tomatoes, water and seasonings.
• Simmer for approximately 1 hour on medium-low heat.
• Ladle into bowls; top with shredded mozzarella cheese and serve immediately.
• NOTE: As written, this makes a huge amount. I had a lot to put in the freezer.

PASTA E FAJIOLI SOUP (ITALIAN CHILI)

Steps:

• Brown ground beef and sausage. Drain fat. Place all ingredients in stock pot except pasta and garnish. Heat to boiling then cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook three hours. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Add pasta to soup bowl by the hand full, add soup. Garnish with cheese and serve.
• Enjoy!

ITALIAN CASSOULET (ITALIAN CHILI)

Steps:

• Simmer beans about an hour to an hour and a half in plenty of water until almost done. You don't want the beans disintegrating during the next stage of cooking.
• Drain and set aside.
• Add olive oil to large, heavy pot.
• Cook sausage, pepper, onions and coarse garlic until sausage is no longer pink, stirring to break up meat into chunks, about 3/8" or so.
• Add tomatoes, minced garlic, beans, broth, habaneros and rosemary.
• Bring to simmer, cover and simmer an hour or so - until beans are done and rosemary has absorbed enough liquid to be comfortably edible.
• Refrigerate for one day.
• Then reheat amounts as needed and serve with Pugliese and a fine Chianti.
• Makes about a gallon.