- The heavy wind and rain we received here in western Massachusetts over the last few days, brutally tore through the trees. Branches are down and colored leaves are strewn like confetti, covering the ground. I think late autumn is hunkering down and the outside temperature is down as well. Seasonal sweater, and comfort food inducing weather is upon us.
The gifts of warm days and nights stretched far into fall this year, extending the bounty from my gardens, leaving me with outside work still to do. The vegetable garden has at last surrendered to frost, and is waiting to be cleared and mulched. My perennial flower bed is tired and ready for sleep. Garlic needs to be planted for next year’s harvest.
The next good, dry day, I will work outside. I won’t have time to spend in my kitchen preparing a wholesome dinner. This white bean and sausage casserole is one of my go to meals for just that kind of busy day. It is so simple to put together and letting the slow cooker do the cooking makes it simpler still.
Cassoulet, (ka-soo-LAY) is a delicious casserole type dish from the Languedoc region of France. Filled with white beans and meat, or different meats, (typically duck, pork, sausages…) it is cooked in a covered dish and simmered for a long period of time. The long simmer enables the flavors to blend in the most delectable harmony.
Different regions of France have their own variations of this satisfying cassoulet. This recipe is my version. From the USA. Simmered in a slow cooker all day, it is ready for me to top with breadcrumbs and shaved Parmesan cheese, to crisp in the oven; in time for dinner. I add a salad or green vegetable, and a loaf of warm bread just out of the oven; for a well rounded and thoroughly enjoyable meal.
I know some folks, and a lot of children, aren’t fans of casserole type dishes. The sausage in my version is a sweet chicken or turkey sausage and everyone enjoys it. My grandchildren might not want the rest of the ingredients on their plates, but the sausage chunks are always gobbled up.
I have yet to hear any complaints from non casserole eating adults…this dish disappears.
Coming home after a long work day, (or in from a day of work in the garden) to the smell of this casserole simmering in my slow cooker, is one of the incomparable joys of home cooking. If you double the ingredients, there will be enough left for another meal or a couple of work day lunches. A single recipe will serve 4 to 6 adults nicely. But don’t count on leftovers.
This is simple, wholesome, heart, soul, and belly warming fare. It is also a great way to use up leftover cooked meat. In this particular mix, this time around, I used leftover turkey meatloaf making it a win, win meal.
White Bean and Sausage Casserole
Get your slow cooker out of it’s resting place. I have two. A four quart and an eight quart, with removable crocks. The removable crocks are my preference. I can take the crock out and finish cooking the meal in the oven when required. If yours doesn’t have a removable crock, you can easily move the contents from the slow cooker to a casserole dish for crisping the bread crumb topping in the oven, as this recipe requires; so don’t go buy a new slow cooker if you don’t have to.
The ingredients here are enough for my four quart slow cooker (for 4 to 6 adults). I use my eight quart one when I’m doubling the recipe.
You will need:
One 14 1/2 oz can of great northern beans (rinsed well)
One 14 1/2 oz can of fire roasted diced tomatoes, and one can full of water
One large Vidalia onion, diced
Four or five cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
One cup of carrots diced into 1/2 inch chunks
Two cups of butternut squash, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch chunks
One quarter cup white wine or vermouth (red if you are using beef)
Two teas of dried thyme leaves
Two teas Herbs de Provence
Freshly ground salt and pepper to taste (about a 1/4 teas each)
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
For breadcrumb or panko topping:
1 cup plain panko (or homemade breadcrumbs)
1 TB finely grated Parmesan cheese
A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
1 pound (more or less) of diced, leftover turkey meatloaf (which I used here) or, leftover chicken chunks, (removed from the bone), turkey, pork; any of these alone or in combination will do. Or use beef, your call.
If you are not using already cooked, leftover meat, use five to six links of sweet turkey or chicken sausage, squeezed out of the casing and into the pot in medium chunks. You will want to add the uncooked sausage ( or what ever uncooked meat you are planning to use) to the slow cooker after a few hours of simmering the veggies. If you are not going to be home to do this, (and sometimes I’m not) this is where the sausage is really handy. You can add it once you get home and it cooks and blends nicely into the casserole while you prep the rest of your meal. Within an hour, it is ready.
To your preheated to high temperature slow cooker, add all the above ingredients through the salt and pepper, and stir well. Let the mixture simmer for several hours on high. After 5 or 6 hours, turn the slow cooker to low temperature. If you are leaving the house for the day, (longer than 8 hours) put the slow cooker on low and give the contents a stir before you leave.
After simmering for several hours, add the crumbled feta cheese. Stir it in well. Let it all simmer for a few more minutes. Then, cover the magnificent scented casserole with the bread crumb topping, or panko, and grate about a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese on top. Drizzle it with a bit of extra virgin olive oil and put the crock or casserole dish into a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the bread topping is browned and crisp.
We may not be serving and enjoying this meal in Provence, done authentically to their different regions. Yet if we add a bottle of French wine, light a few candles, get out the cloth napkins and the Tuscan pottery; using our imaginations, we can come as close as possible.
Like having a mini vacation around our own tables. Add the secret ingredient and nothing on earth compares. Can’t get much better than that.
Many Blessings…from a house, on a hill, in the woods.
