Ep 8. Kinda Sausage Cassoulet

Jamie's Meals in Minutes season 2 episode 8, titled "Kinda Sausage Cassoulet," is all about whipping up a warm, comforting dish in a flash. Jamie shows viewers how to make a one-pot cassoulet that uses ingredients most home cooks already have on hand, plus some clever shortcuts for getting everything ready in under 30 minutes.

The episode starts off with Jamie gathering his ingredients - sausages, cannellini beans, pancetta, garlic, onion, carrots, celery, thyme, bay leaves, and tinned tomatoes. He notes that cassoulet is traditionally a slow-cooked French stew that can take hours to prepare, but his version is a quick and easy take that still delivers heaps of flavor.

Jamie starts by browning his sausages in a large, oven-safe pot, then setting them aside to rest. In the same pot, he adds the pancetta and lets it render down, releasing its salty, smoky flavor. Next come the chopped onions, carrots, and celery, which Jamie sautés until soft and fragrant.

At this point, Jamie adds some garlic and a handful of fresh thyme leaves, giving the mixture an extra hit of herbaceousness. He then pours in a can of tinned tomatoes and a cup of chicken stock, stirring everything together until it's well combined.

Jamie then adds the cannellini beans and bay leaves to the pot, stirring everything once more before returning the sausages back to the pot. Everything simmers on the stove for a few minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld and intensify.

The final step is to finish the dish in the oven, giving it a crispy, golden-brown crust on top. Jamie shows viewers how to make a quick breadcrumb and herb topping, which he sprinkles over the cassoulet before sliding it into the oven.

While the cassoulet bakes, Jamie takes a moment to chat about the different kinds of sausages one can use in this recipe. He notes that his personal favorites are Italian-style sausages, but that any sausage that's good for cooking will work well.

Finally, Jamie pulls the cassoulet out of the oven, revealing a steaming, bubbling pot of hearty deliciousness. He serves it up in bowls, garnishing each one with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. The dish looks absolutely delicious, with beans and sausages nestled in a rich tomato sauce with crispy breadcrumbs on top - a perfect comfort food for a chilly evening.

Throughout the episode, Jamie shares some useful tips and tricks for making the dish even faster and easier - for example, using pre-chopped vegetables or canned beans rather than soaking dried ones. He also talks about different ways to customize the dish to suit different tastes, such as adding more spice or swapping in different vegetables.

Overall, "Kinda Sausage Cassoulet" is a fantastic episode of Jamie's Meals in Minutes that showcases Jamie's talent for making delicious, nutritious meals in no time at all. With its comforting flavors and easy-to-follow recipe, it's sure to become a family favorite.