While there is a multitude of cassoulet recipes (almost each village in the South west of France have its own), a typical cassoulet is made of lingots beans, duck or goose legs confit, sausages from Toulouse, pieces of pork (hock, shoulder or breast), pork rind, salted lard, onions, garlic, tomato and and carrots.

A short review of history

The origins of cassoulet are controversial in France. Some historians believe the origins are arabic. While the arabs invaded France during the 7th century, they introduced the culture of white beans with them and ways to cook it including a recipe of lamb stew extremely similar to cassoulet.

Another legend refers to the siege of Castelnaudary by the English. Starving people would have collected all they had left to feed the soldiers. White beans and meat were the main ingredients of this gigantic stew. Thanks to the energy provided by this rich meal, and probably by the wine too, the French soldier defeated the English surprised by the unexpected attack.

Where to find cassoulet in Perth and Fremantle

The following cassoulet brands can be found in Perth, Fremantle and Joondalup.

How to prepare cassoulet

The main difficulty when cooking a cassoulet is to cook the beans so that they are tender without cooking them too long and ending with mashed beans… Cassoulet is a very long and torturous preparation which we don't recommend to try on your own unless you have a lot of time and patience. Thankfully, cassoulet can be bought off the shelves and are dead simple to serve.

You just need to be careful not to crunch the beans when pouring it in a dish.

1. Spread breadcrumb all over it. You may alternatively use shredded cheese but it isn’t as good…

2. Put it in the oven at 200°C or thermostat 7-8 for about 30min.

3. Cassoulet shall be served hot, do not mix the beans before serving.

4. Cassoulet is a rich dish, no need for any entree or heavy dessert after.

5. Serve with a tannin red wine.

Cassoulet
where to find them in Perth and Fremantle

This article has been written with the best of our knowledge and the contributions from the delicatessen.

If you know about a place where to find French Cassoulet in Perth please don’t hesitate to contact us.

last updated 12-Feb-2017

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While to origins of the recipe are uncertain, the origins of the name are quite clear. During the 14th century, the stew recipe was cooked in recipient of a particular shape made of terra cotta and called “cassole” which was manufactured by a Italian in a village close to Castelnaudary in the south west of France. The terra cotta provided a particular taste to the stew and became essential to the recipe.

The introduction of lingots beans in Europe by Christopher Columbus changed the cassoulet recipe as this type of beans became very popular in the south west of France.

The name cassoulet became officially associated with the recipe during the 18th century. The first cassoulet manufactory was created in Castelnaudary in 1836. The cassoulet of Castelnaudary nowadays represents 80% of the production in France.