Leek and bean cassoulet with biscuits

Summary

Yield6
Source

"Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook," by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero (Marlowe & Co., $27.50)

Prep Time5 minutes
coursedessert
ethnicityamerican

Description

This is a home-cooked comfort food to the max.

Ingredients

  • stew
  • 2 yukon gold potatoes, cut 1/2 inch dice
  • 3T cornstarch
  • 2T olive oil
  • 2 leeks, washed well and sliced thinly (about 2 cups)
  • 1 small onion, cut into medium-sized dice
  • 1 1⁄2c carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch dice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1T heaping, chopped fresh thyme, plus extra for garnish
  • several pinches of freshly ground black pepper
  • 1⁄2t salt (more or less depending on how salty your broth is, so taste first
  • 3⁄4c frozen peas
  • 1 (15 ounce) can navy beans, drained and rinsed (about 1/2) cups
  • biscuits
  • 3⁄4c plain soy milk
  • 1t apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1⁄2c all-purpose flour
  • 2t baking powder
  • 1⁄4t salt
  • 1⁄4c nonhydrogenated vegan shortening

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Place the potatoes in a small pot and cover with water. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, let cook for about 10 minutes, until the potatoes are just tender enough to be pierced with a fork. Drain immediately so that they do not overcook. While they are boiling, you can prep the rest of the veggies and start preparing the biscuits - the potatoes should definitely be done by the time you are.
Now, prepare everything for the biscuits. You're not going to make them yet, but it's good to have everything ready when it comes time to top the stew. Add the vinegar to the soy milk in a measuring cup and set aside to curdle. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-size mixing bowl.
Now leave that alone and start the stew:
Mix the cornstarch into the vegetable stock until dissolved.
Preheat an oven-safe skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium heat. Saute in the oil the leeks, onions, and carrots until ery soft and just beginning to browm about 10 minutes. Keep the heat moderate so that they don't burn.
Add the garlic, thyme, freshly ground black pepper, and salt, and cook for 1 more minute. add the cooked potatoes, and frozen peas, then pour in the vegetable stock mixture. Raise theh eat just a bit; it will take a few minutes but the liquid will start simmering. Once it does, lower the heat again. Let it simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, but no longer than that. If you need more time for the biscuits, then turn off the heat under the stew.
Back to the biscuits
Add the shortening to the flour in small slivers and work it into the dough with a fork or with your fingers until large crumbs form. You don't want to cream it in; there should be clumps. Drizzle in the soy milk and mix with a fork until everything is moistened (some dry parts are okay).
Wash and dry your hands, then lightly flour them and get them dirty again. Gently knead the dough about ten times right in the bowl, just so that it is holding together and not very sticky. If it seems sticky, as in sticking to your fingers, then gently work in a little more flour. Set that aside and check your stew.
The stew should be simmering and slightly thickened. Mix in the beans. Now, let's add the biscuits. Pull off the chunks of dough that are about slightly large than golf balls. Gently roll them into balls and flattem at bit; they do not ahve to be prefectly round. Add them to the otp of the stew, placed an inch or so apart.
Transfer the whole megillah to the preheated oven. If you are worried about spillover, place it on a rimmed baking sheet, but we've never had that problem. Bake for about 15 minutes. The biscuits should be just slightly brown and firm to the touch.
Remove from the oven and use a large serving spoon to place some of the stew and a biscuit in each shallow, individual bowl. Sprinkle with a little chopped, fresh thyme.
Serve at last! Especially6 yummy when you break up your biscuit and mix it in a bit with your stew.