Cassoulet with Bacon, Andouille and Country Ribs
- 2 cups dried white beans, such as haricots blancs or Great Northerns, soaked overnight in cold water and drained
- 2 quarts plus 2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 pounds meaty country-style pork loin ribs, fat trimmed, meat removed from the bones and cut into 1-inch pieces, rib bones reserved
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 pound thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3/4 pound andouille sausage, thickly sliced crosswise
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots, finely diced
- 6 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 6 large plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- In a large saucepan, cover the beans with the stock and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to moderately low and simmer until the beans are just tender, about 1 hour.
- Drain the beans, reserving the stock.
- Return the stock to the saucepan and boil over high heat until reduced to 4 cups, about 7 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet.
- Working in 2 batches, season the rib meat with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat until browned all over, about 4 minutes per batch.
- Transfer to a platter.
- Add the bacon to the skillet and cook until the fat is rendered and the meat begins to crisp, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the bacon to the platter.
- Add the andouille to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
- Transfer to the platter.
- Add the reserved rib bones to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side.
- Add to the platter.
- Add the onion, carrots and garlic to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 8 minutes.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, thyme and bay leaf and cook, stirring until the tomatoes release their juices, about 3 minutes.
- Return the rib meat, bacon and andouille to the skillet; stir until heated through.
- Preheat the oven to 300.
- Scrape the meat and vegetables into a large glass or ceramic baking dish.
- Nestle in the rib bones and top with the white beans and the reduced stock.
- Bake the cassoulet for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until bubbling and the beans on top are crisp.
- Let stand for 15 minutes.
- Pick out the bay leaf and serve.
white beans, chicken stock, unsalted butter, countrystyle, salt, bacon, sausage, onion, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/cassoulet-with-bacon-andouille-and-country-ribs (may not work)