Who doesn’t like the Middle Ages? Well may be the peasants, and the servants, and the sufferers of the Plague. When most people think of the Middle Ages they think of the interminable mud and bad dental health. For me, I will always think of the romantic walled city of Carcassonne.
I was introduced to the city by the famous board game. Being a super nerd, I of course wanted to play the game of Carcassonne inside the city of Carcassonne. So we did, and I lost that particular game because I was half distracted by the maidens dressed as fairies dancing around us. Long story short, to console my defeat I went on the hunt for lunch. That is when “Medieval Duck and Beans” first crossed my path.
Name: Medieval Duck and Beans
Difficulty: 8.5 out of 10
Prep time: 80 mins.
Ingredients: 1 duck leg (smoked or from frozen), 2 links of summer sausages, 1 medium sized shallot, 1 teaspoon of butter, 2 cups of chicken stock, 1 large can of white beans (cooked), 1 box of couscous, salt and black pepper.
As you can see, nothing fancy, because the Middle Ages was not a time for Haute Cuisine. One must eat and get on with their short lives.
Step One: In a large dutch oven, brown the duck leg and the sausages with cubed shallot in butter until all sides are golden.
Step Two: pour in the beans and half of the chicken stock. Give it a good stir and cover. Cook on low medium heat for 1 hour.
Step Three: Carefully open the lid (it will be hot, they used to hide oven mittens so you cannot poison the king without burning your fingers), pour in the couscous and the rest of the chicken stock. Stir in salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and turn off the stove. Cover for 20 mins.
Step Four: Serve dish in pot and warn guests about the hotness of the dutch oven. Best eaten in wooden spoons and bowls accompanied by mead or old fashioned ale.
This is an incredible satisfying meal after a long day of jousting and frolicking or raiding the neighbouring villages for gold on the pretence you are collecting taxes for the righteous crusades to rid the Holy Land of Heathens. Orrrr after losing in a boardgame.
Let me know how you like it.
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