French cuisine has many dishes that are identified by feeling reminiscent and comfortable, with two of the most famous being cassoulet and beef bourguignon. Cassoulet ingredients include white beans, pork belly, duck confit, sausage, onion, garlic, carrots, chicken broth, bread crumbs, and olive oil; Beef Bourguignon ingredients are beef stew meat, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, red wine, beef broth, tomato sauce, flour, butter, olive oil, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Both dishes take several hours to cook and both are excellent for cold winters or reminders of home.

Comfort Food from Around the World: Learning to Prepare French Cassoulet and Beef Bourguignon

Introduction

Comfort food is defined as any food that brings feelings of nostalgia, warmth, and satisfaction. Comfort food is recognized for its warm and cozy taste and texture that provides a sense of comfort to the person eating it. Comfort foods can vary from country to country, but French cuisine has many dishes that are known for their comfort factor. In this article, you will learn how to prepare two of the most famous French comfort foods: cassoulet and beef bourguignon.

Ingredients for Cassoulet

• 2 pounds white beans
• 1 pound pork belly, cut into strips
• 1 pound duck confit
• 1 pound sausages
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions for Cassoulet

1. Preheat your oven to 300F.
2. Rinse the white beans and soak them in water overnight.
3. In a large oven-proof pot, heat up the olive oil and saute the pork belly until it’s crispy.
4. Add the onion, garlic cloves, and chopped carrots to the pot and saute until they’re soft, for about 5 minutes.
5. Add the chicken broth and the soaked white beans to the pot.
6. Place the duck confit on top of the beans and add the sausages to the pot.
7. Cover the pot with a lid and place it in the oven to cook for about 4-5 hours.
8. Mix the bread crumbs with a little bit of olive oil and sprinkle on top of the cassoulet.
9. Bake the cassoulet uncovered for another 30 minutes or until the bread crumbs are crispy and brown.
10. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Ingredients for Beef Bourguignon

• 2 pounds of beef stew meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 cup of red wine
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp of flour
• 2 tbsp of butter
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions for Beef Bourguignon

1. Preheat your oven to 350F.
2. In a large pot, heat up the olive oil and brown the beef stew meat.
3. Remove the beef from the pot and set it aside in a bowl.
4. Add the butter to the pot and melt it.
5. Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery and saute until they’re soft, for about 5 minutes.
6. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir until everything is coated.
7. Add the red wine and bring it to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer.
8. Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, bay leaf, thyme, and salt and pepper to the pot and stir until everything is combined.
9. Return the beef to the pot and cover it with a tight-fitting lid.
10. Place the pot in the oven and cook for about 2-3 hours or until the beef is tender.
11. When the beef is tender, remove the pot from the oven and skim off any excess fat from the top of the pot.
12. Remove the bay leaf from the pot and serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.

Conclusion

French cassoulet and beef bourguignon are both excellent comfort foods that provide a sense of warmth and satisfaction. These dishes are perfect for cold winters or when you’re feeling nostalgic and need something to remind you of home. Both cassoulet and beef bourguignon take time to cook, but the result is worth the effort. Follow these instructions and enjoy the cozy and delicious French dishes in the comfort of your own home.