3 Bean Cassoulet

Last year during our 28 day cruise from Rome to Singapore, there were several days that I needed a break from the heavy meals,  So I would order from the vegetarian / vegan menu.  I had a 3 Bean Cassoulet that was so tasty and so filling, (it also gave my system a chance to relax from the heavy meals).  In fact, I had it several times on our cruise.  Since I've been home, I've tried several times to recreate the recipe, and I've finally think I've hit upon it.  It's great for those meatless Monday night meals, or even as a side dish.  This recipe has very few ingredients, yet makes a large pot.  You can easily feed 6 to 8 people as a main dish.  Let me show you how I make it.

You will need:
1 can (28 ounces) tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans
1 can (15 ounces) great northern beans
1 can (15 ounces) small white beans with garlic and onions
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
2 teas. dried parsley flakes
1 teas dried basil
1/2 teas. salt
1/2 teas dried thyme
1/8 teas pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Drain and rinse the  garbanzo and great northern beans.
Drain but do not rinse the small white beans, (you don't want to remove the garlic and onions).

Add the 3 beans to a 3 quart baking dish.

Note:  You could also use chickpeas in place of the garbanzo beans.

Add your chopped carrots, onions, and minced garlic.

Make sure to chop your carrots and onions very small, (so they will cook completely through).  I used 1 large carrot and 1 medium onion.

Add the parsley flakes, dried basil, salt, dried thyme, and pepper.

Add the tomatoes, and bay leaf.


Note:  You can also use stewed tomatoes, to add another layer of flavor.

Stir everything to combine completely.

Cover and bake for about 90 minutes, (until the vegetables are cooked completely).

Once the vegetables are cooked completely, you will notice that tomatoes have formed a sauce and thicken slightly.  Let the cassoulet cook just slightly, before serving.

And you have a wonderful, tasty, meatless main dish.  Or, a great side dish.

And for those who have a meat lovers in the family, An alternative is to brown up some ground meat and add it to the cassoulet as you are assembling it, and bake it all together, (just remember to drain any excess fat from the meat, before adding it to the mixture).


Enjoy !