GMA Recipe: Lamb and White Bean Casserole

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Lamb and White Bean Casserole
From chef and author Emeril Lagasse
March 18, 2005

While this recipe goes especially well for Easter, make it anytime to bring cheers to your table. Emeril Lagasse made it on Good Morning America.

Ingredients

1 pound dried Great Northern beans, rinsed well and picked over

2 tablespoons bacon fat or olive oil

3 pounds boneless lamb stew meat, cut into 2-inch cubes

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

3 cups chopped yellow onion (2 large onions)

1 cup chopped celery (3 ribs celery)

3 bay leaves

2 teaspoons Emeril's Original Essence

1/4 cup minced garlic

1 cup peeled whole tomatoes, coarsely chopped (canned is fine)

8 cups chicken stock, or canned low-sodium chicken broth

1/3 cup chopped green onions

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 cup dried bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Combine the beans and 8 cups cold water in a large saucepan or soup pot and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and remove from the heat. Let sit for 1 hour. Drain the beans in a colander and discard the soaking liquid. Set the beans aside.

Meanwhile, heat the bacon fat in a large Dutch oven. Season the lamb with the salt and pepper and saute the lamb in batches until very brown on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes per batch. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the lamb to a bowl and set aside. Add the onions, celery, thyme, bay leaves, and Essence and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits, until the vegetables are soft, 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and chicken stock and return the meat to the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 30 minutes.

Add the beans to the pot and continue cooking until the beans are tender but not mushy, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The cooking liquid should be slightly thickened, just enough to coat the beans and lamb. (If the sauce seems too thin, remove the meat and beans with a slotted spoon and cook until the liquid has reduced and is slightly thickened. Alternatively, if the cooking liquid has reduced too much, add a bit of water.) Add the green onions and parsley, taste, and season if necessary with additional salt and pepper.

Transfer the bean mixture to a 9 x 13-inch casserole and top with the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Drizzle the top with the olive oil and bake, uncovered, until the casserole is golden brown on top and bubbly around the edges, about 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Recipe copyright 2005, Emeril Lagasse