Recipe: Quick Pork Cassoulet

Based on a recipe for "Pork Cassoulet" from The America's Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook, 2012, p. 51. Read the story behind this dish in Sunday, Dinner for Two.  Serves 6.

Ingredients

2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans (white kidney beans)
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound pork tenderloin
12 ounces kielbasa
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes

Instructions

1. Drain and rinse beans.
2. Trim fat from the tenderloin and cut into ½- to 1-inch chunks.
3. Cut the kielbasa in half lengthwise then slice into ¼-inch slices.
4. Chop the onion fine.
5. Peel the garlic and press it with a garlic press.
6. In blender process 1½ cups beans and 1 cup chicken broth until smooth and set aside.
7. Pat the pork pieces dry and season lightly with Kosher salt and black pepper.
8. In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat the oil until just smoking. 
9. Add the pork tenderloin and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes, then transfer the browned pork to a bowl.
10. Reduce heat to medium,  add the onion and kielbasa, and cook until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
11. Add garlic and thyme and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
12. Add the remaining 1 cup broth and stir, scraping up any brown bits from the pan.
13. Add tomatoes, puree´d beans, and remaining beans, stir to combine, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
14. Add browned pork tenderloin and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
15. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve topped with toasted croutons.

---

Drain and rinse the beans.

Trim pork tenderloin and cut into pieces.

Dice onion, fine, and cut up kielbasa.

Press garlic and measure dried thyme.

Process 1½ cups beans and 1 cup broth. (Yes, this should have been a blender.)

Brown seasoned pork in oil until browned on all sides.

Remove pork and cook the onions and kielbasa. Add garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant.

Add broth, pureéd beans, beans, and tomatoes and simmer until slightly thickened.

Add browned pork tenderloin, cook until heated through, and serve.