Cassoulet: This is a meat-reduced cassoulet with the emphasis on alkalising the body with potatoes and using celery alongside onion for the potassium content. Cinnamon helps soothe the stomach (one Japanese study suggests it can heal ulcers). Cloves relieve pain. Allspice has been used to treat indigestion.
You will need:
A small amount of pancetta (add oil if the onions dry out).
Three large potatoes sliced into very thick chips.
Two chopped onions.
Two sticks of celery, finely chopped.
Four cloves of garlic.
Half a tin of chickpeas.
One tin or four fresh tomatoes skinned and de-seeded.
Two-inch stick of cinnamon.
Six cloves.
One tsp of allspice.
Black pepper.
Method:
Warm the pancetta in a large pan, enough to get the fat flowing.
Briefly fry the potato slices so that they become less permeable to water. Take out the potatoes. Add onions and then a minute or two later the celery and sauté until browning.
Add the potatoes back in along with tomatoes, chickpeas, cloves, allspice and cinnamon stick.
Cook for 20 minutes and garnish with parsley.