Fitting for the last post of the year, this week I cooked hands down the best dish I’ve ever prepared. It was so good part of me thought ‘Stop now, why keep trying?” Perhaps instead it will encourage me to bigger and better levels. Or maybe I will make only one dish now, over and over. Whatever happens, you must try my version of cassoulet.
It may not look like much right out of the oven, but… wow.
As we discussed in the last post, cassoulet originated as a peasant dish, a way to combine a lot of pantry items and left over pieces of meat for a cheap meal that puts everything to use, no waste allowed. Great idea, right? Besides, who of us can resist a big old stewy pot of beans and meat?
Particularly when done well.
Over the years, I’ve cooked many versions of cassoulet and sampled other versions at some of my favorite restaurants. I’ve eaten a lot of wonderful cassoulet.
I don’t mean to be immodest, but it’s the truth: this was The Best.
I have a small dinner for some friends every year the week before Christmas, so I tried it out on them. The consensus at the table was the same. “Felt like pure love”, “otherworldly” and “I never knew food could taste like this” were among the comments. (Thanks to my friends!) All of which is to say: give this a try! It takes some time but if you break it up over days, it is actually quite easy. Lots of steps, yes, but each step is simple.
If and when you are ready, or for some great photos, click the link below for a page I created with the step-by-step recipe. With a little planning, you will be on your way to one of the most comforting, deeply satisfying meals of your life.
And Happy New Year! I will return soon with my year-end wrap-up posts, more movie and food posts and, as promised, a quick-fire version of cassoulet from by friend Brian Gerritson that deserves a post all its own.
Until then, Christmas and Holiday blessings… and thanks for reading!
It was divine. Still dreaming about it.