Welcome back everyone, to another delicious edition of Curious Cooking. This week, I wrestled with coming up with a recipe that fit both the theme of The Reality Register and Easter, and it was a fairly difficult task. I had this one recipe that was fantastic, but worried that it may come across as sacrilegious and offensive to some if presented on Easter Sunday. Hear me out though, Easter is the celebration of Jesus returning to life soon after his death, making him the world’s most famous zombie. So I present to you, Zombean Casserole.
Religious icons aside, you might be wondering what exactly makes this dish worthy of its ominous name. Well, let me tell you. Zombean Casserole is a classic bean casserole with a twist – it’s packed with savory bacon and sausage, adding a depth of flavor that will leave you craving more brains… I mean, beans.
But before we get into the recipe, let’s talk a bit about the lore surrounding zombies and how it relates to our dish. Zombies are known for their insatiable hunger for human flesh, but what if I told you they also have a soft spot for comfort food? That’s right, just like us living folks, zombies appreciate a good meal, especially one that’s hearty and filling.
And that’s where Zombean Casserole comes in. This dish is the perfect blend of comforting flavors and zombie-inspired goodness. It’s like a warm hug for your taste buds, with layers of beans, bacon, and sausage melding together to create a dish that’s both satisfying and delicious.
Now, without further ado, let’s get into the recipe:
Zombean Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 pound dried navy beans, soaked overnight
- 6 slices bacon, finely chopped
- 1 pound sausage, casing removed
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Drain the soaked beans and rinse them under cold water.
- In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it’s crispy and golden brown. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet.
- Add the sausage to the skillet and cook until it’s browned and cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set it aside.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the drained beans to the skillet along with the chicken broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Transfer the bean mixture to a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle the cooked bacon and sausage over the top of the beans.
- In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the casserole.
- Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Garnish the casserole with fresh parsley before serving. Enjoy your Zombean Casserole warm from the oven!
And there you have it, a dish fit for both the living and the undead. Zombean Casserole is sure to satisfy your hunger for comfort food, whether you’re a hungry human or a hungry zombie. And trust me when I say, it’s far more delicious than brains.
Until next time, happy cooking!
Barbara Bakes
