What bouillabaisse is to Marseille, cassoulet is to the Southwest of France: the subject of endless and spirited debate. Everyone agrees about the foundation, white beans cooked with fat, garlic, and herbs; this base gives the beloved dish its smooth texture and rich, creamy flavor. But the meats used to garnish the dish vary by region. In Toulouse, preserved goose or...
Read moreWhat bouillabaisse is to Marseille, cassoulet is to the Southwest of France: the subject of endless and spirited debate. Everyone agrees about the foundation, white beans cooked with fat, garlic, and herbs; this base gives the beloved dish its smooth texture and rich, creamy flavor. But the meats used to garnish the dish vary by region. In Toulouse, preserved goose or duck (confit d'oie ou de canard), mutton, and Toulouse sausage are essential ingredients; in Castelnaudary, pork and goose are the meats of choice; and in Carcassonne, mutton and partridge are de rigeur. Whatever the ingredients (these and other variations work equally well, to our mind), a homemade cassoulet is a labor of love, and many hours (Julia Child recommends two to three days!). If you are pressed for time, you will be pleased to discover this ready-made version from Elevages de Périgord. Produced in Canada (the French don't have the right to export pork to the U.S. these days), this cassoulet contains two pieces of duck confit and two sausages per jar. Just warm it in the oven or stovetop and enjoy.
