Cassoulet is a traditional dish from France's southwest region made up of white beans and various meats, (sausages, pork and duck confit). The actual ingredients will vary according to the region. It is cooked in a casserole slowly to absorb all the deep flavors, turning it into a hearty, delicious dish.

Soak the beans overnight in 2 liters of cold water and reserve in a cooler for 8 to 10 hours.
Rub the pork shoulder with 1 tablespoon of rock salt on each side and let cure in a cooler for 3 to 4 hours.

Drain the beans and put the soaking water aside. Place the beans in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil on high heat and boil for 2 minutes. Strain and refresh the beans under cold water to stop them from cooking. Rinse the pot and put the strained beans back. Add thyme, bay leaves, carrots, 8 cloves, green leek and tomato paste. Cover the ingredients with 5 cups of chicken stock, put lid on top and bring to boil on high heat.

When the beans are boiling, reduce the heat to medium. Cook the beans for about 20 to 30 minutes, just until tender, but firm enough to stay together. When cooked, strain in a colander with a bowl underneath to collect the cooking liquid.

In the meantime, rinse the pork shoulder under cold running water and dry it with a clean towel. Heat the duck fat in a sauté pan and sear the pork on all sides until golden brown, then set it aside. Do the same for the duck confit and the pork sausages.
You are just searing the outside of the meat, to make it golden brown. Degrease and deglaze the pan with 2 cups of the bean cooking liquid to clean and dissolve the flavor of the pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F (if using a convection oven, bake at 25°F lower).

Peel and chop the garlic, remove the aromatic garnish of the beans, but save the bay leaves for later use.

Place the bacon slices on the bottom of a clay casserole or in an ovenproof dish, slightly overlapping them. Cover the bacon with a layer of beans, and then place in the center the pork shoulder, duck confit legs, chopped garlic and the rest of the beans. Add the bean cooking stock and the remaining cup of chicken stock, if needed. Place the sausages and bay leaves all around the top. Finally, season with salt and black pepper.

Bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Test the beans; they should be cooked but not mushy. Sprinkle half of the breadcrumbs, and bake until golden brown. It will take 10 to 15 minutes. Then, break the thin crust and add the remaining breadcrumbs and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes at 450°F, until the top becomes crusty and golden brown.

Remove from oven and serve in the same dish with a good red wine. A Madiran would be an excellent choice.