My take on this favorite French dish, cassoulet.
This is comfort food!
Ingredients
12 medium brussels sprouts
2 small red onions
1/2 cup olive oil
3 medium parsnips
3 medium carrots
3 celery stalks
1 (4 pound) chicken - cut up
3 garlic cloves, smashed
1/4 pound pancetta, cut into strips
2 cans Great Northern white beans
For the fennel spice rub:
1/4 cup fennel seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
To prepare the spice rub, put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds and peppercorns in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Watching carefully and tossing seeds frequently, toast the seeds evenly. When light brown and fragrant, pour seeds onto a plate to cool. When cooled, put seeds into a coffee grinder or blender and grind to a powder.
Trim brussels sprouts by removing outer tough leaves and stems. Cook in salted boiling water for 8 - 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Peel onions, Cut through the stem into 6 wedges. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in dutch oven. When oil is hot, add onions. While onions are cooking, peel and half the parsnips, lengthwise. Then cut into bite size pieces. Add to the onions. Peel the carrots. Cut carrots and celery into bite size pieces. Add to pot. Continue cooking vegetables until lightly browned on all sides, about 2 minutes. Add brussels sprouts. Season with salt to taste. Cook, turning often, until all vegetables are well browned, about 10 minutes. Remove vegetables to bowl and season with about 1 teaspoon fennel spice rub.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Season chicken pieces on all sides with fennel spice rub. Heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil in dutch oven. Add chicken, side side down, in batches and brown well on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pot. Remove all but 2 Tablespoons of oil from the pan. Add pancetta and garlic and cook until golden, about 2 minutes.
Add beans with their liquid into the dutch oven with the pancetta. Bring to a simmer. Add vegetable and top with chicken, skin side up. Roast in oven until surface in nicely browned and chicken is done, about 30 - 40 minutes. Allow to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving..