Roasted Garlic and Butternut Squash Cassoulet

Roasted Garlic and Butternut Squash Cassoulet

1 whole garlic head

4 ounces pancetta, chopped

2 C. vertically sliced onion

1 T. olive oil

1 T. white wine vinegar

4 1/2 C. (1/2-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (about 2 pounds)

1/2 C. organic vegetable broth (such as Swanson Certified Organic)

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

4 (16-ounce) cans cannellini or other white beans, rinsed and drained

1 bay leaf

2 (1-ounce) slices white bread

2 T. grated fresh Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. olive oil

1 T. chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 350°. Remove white papery skin from garlic head (do not peel or separate the cloves). Wrap garlic head in foil. Bake at 350° for 1 hour; cool 10 minutes. Separate cloves; squeeze to extract garlic pulp. Set half of garlic pulp aside; reserve remaining garlic pulp for another use. Discard skins. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; sauté 5 minutes or until crisp. Remove pancetta from pan, reserving drippings in pan. Add onion and 1 T. oil to drippings in pan; sauté 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 25 minutes or until onion is very tender and browned, stirring frequently. Stir in vinegar. Preheat oven to 375°. Add garlic pulp, pancetta, squash, and next 6 ingredients (through bay leaf) to onion mixture, stirring well. Place bread in a food processor, and pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure about 1 C.. Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 tsp. olive oil; sprinkle evenly over squash mixture. Cover and bake at 375° for 50 minutes or until squash is tender. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until topping is browned. Discard bay leaf. Sprinkle with parsley.

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