"meaty" Meatless French Cassoulet

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 (5 1/4 ounce) package morningstar farms veggie bacon strips
• 2 tofurky hot dogs (optional)
• 1 cup carrot, peeled & diced into biggish chunks
• 1 1/2 cups onions, diced
• 1 cup green pepper, chopped
• 12 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 cup diced potato
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 (14 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 1 cup red wine
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (15 ounce) cans beans, drained
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon herbes de provence
• 1 cup fresh breadcrumb
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Recipe

• 1 1. preheat oven to 400 degrees f.
• 2 2. reserve 4 of the garlic cloves.
• 3 3. microwave carrots, onions, garlic, green pepper, potato, until crisp.
• 4 tender. i often use the technique of pre-cooking vegetables in the microwave to save a little time. after removing from microwave, salt and toss the vegetables with oil, then roast at 400 until somewhat carmelized, about 20 minutes.
• 5 4. decrease oven heat to 350.
• 6 5. in an earthenware (or corning-ware) casserole, toss the beans, vegetables, diced tomatoes, herbs de provence, thyme, red wine, bacon and tofu dogs and 1/2 cup broth.
• 7 6. cover casserole with a tight fitting lid and bake an hour or more. i usually go about an hour and a quarter.
• 8 7. add more broth if needed to during the baking time to keep the beans from burning.
• 9 8. mince the reserved garlic cloves.
• 10 9. combine garlic with the bread crumbs, minced parsley, cheese and 1.
• 11 teaspoon olive oil. i do this in the food processor.
• 12 10. increase oven heat to 400 degrees f.
• 13 11. remove casserole from the oven, remove lid and spread half of the crumb mixture over the top.
• 14 12. return uncovered casserole to the oven and bake about 15 minutes, or.
• 15 until a golden crust has formed.
• 16 13. break up the crust and stir it into the cassoulet. i add a little extra.
• 17 broth too at this point.
• 18 14. repeat by spreading the remaining half of the crumb mixture over the top of the cassoulet.
• 19 15. return uncovered dish to the oven and bake until the second and final.
• 20 crust has formed.
• 21 16. cool a little bit, then serve.