What’s a cassoulet?
We’ll admit, it’s not a very talked about dish. A cassoulet is a traditional French, slow-cooked casserole containing meat and beans.
While similar to a casserole, a big difference between the two is the more loose structure of the cassoulet that puts it somewhere in between a stew and a casserole.
However you want to classify it, it definitely falls into the category of delicious! This recipe for an Italian take on the French dish is a great warm-up recipe for the chilly fall and winter months ahead.
This recipe is also a favorite of ours because it’s easy to throw together, consisting of simple ingredients that you may even have sitting in your fridge or pantry. Especially if you’ve recently stocked up on a big old 48-oz jar of Randall Beans Great Northern Beans!
Tomatoes, spinach and beans keep this dish tasting fresh and tossing in some Italian seasonings, garlic and Italian sausage give it a lovely little zip and solidifying the Italian twist.
Why not give it a try this week for family dinner?
This is the perfect dish for a quick fall family meal, especially when you don’t have much time for meal prep and cooking. It’s hearty, filling and healthy. Plus, you can always stick the leftovers (if you haven’t licked the pot clean) in the fridge for later.
Ingredients
- 5 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 cups, ½-inch-diced whole grain bread
- 2 ½ lbs. fresh tomatoes, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb. Italian sausage
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups of Randall Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
- 10 oz. fresh spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, julienned
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a deep ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the bread cubes and stir to coat with the oil. Cook over medium to medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the cubes are evenly browned.
- In the meantime, brown the Italian sausage in a large skillet. Add tomatoes, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, until the tomatoes break down. Remove from heat, stir in the beans, spinach, and basil until well mixed.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the top is browned and the tomatoes are bubbly.
This recipe can be made with either Randall Great Northern Beans or the Randall Organic products.
