Thomas Keller's Slow-Cooker Cassoulet
Why I Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
4 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 8 pieces and trimmed of excess fat
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup panko
4 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
4 cups coarsely chopped yellow onions (about 3 medium onions)
2 cups dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 can (35 ounces) peeled Italian plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
2 cups chicken broth
12 cups cooked Great Northern beans or other small white beans, drained
1 1/2 pounds fresh chorizo sausage, each halved on the bias
1 garlic head, halved crosswise
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
1 pound baguette, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
Extra-virgin olive oil for brushing
Coarse sea salt, such as sel gris, for garnish
Directions
Season the pork generously with kosher salt and pepper; set aside.
2In the stovetop-safe insert of a slow cooker over medium-high heat, combine the canola oil and panko. Cook, stirring constantly, until the panko is toasted and golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the panko to a baking sheet and season with kosher salt and pepper.
3Add the bacon to the insert and cook until crisp on both sides, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Reserve the bacon fat in the insert.
4Add half of the pork to the insert and brown on all sides, 7 to 8 minutes total. Transfer to a platter. Repeat with the remaining pork.
5Add the onions and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to the insert and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and softened, about 7 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, tomatoes and broth. Remove the insert from the heat and add the beans, pork, chorizo and garlic.
6Place the insert on the slow-cooker base, cover and cook on low until the pork pulls apart easily with a fork, 9 to 10 hours. Skim off the fat, and remove and discard the garlic. Fold in the panko and the 1/4 cup parsley. Adjust the seasonings with kosher salt and pepper.
7Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat the broiler.
8Brush the baguette slices with olive oil. Arrange the slices, oiled side up, on top of the cassoulet, overlapping them. Broil until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes.
9Let the cassoulet stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. Sprinkle each serving with the reserved bacon, sea salt and parsley. Serves 8 to 10.
