An enameled cast iron casserole is a piece of cookware that can be used for almost anything.
It distributes heat evenly, retains it for a long time, can withstand acidic dishes, and can go straight from the stove to the oven—and then to the dinner table.
This makes it ideal for both everyday meals and dishes that need a little extra time and love.
Here are five ideas for dishes you can make in your cast iron casserole – but of course, this is only a small selection of what you can use it for.
Oven-roasted chicken
A cast iron casserole can do what many other stock pots cannot to the same extent: it can both brown and bake.
Start by frying the chicken directly in the casserole to get a crispy, caramelized surface.
Then add vegetables, herbs, and perhaps a knob of butter or a little stock, put the lid on, and place the casserole in the oven.& nbsp;
This allows the chicken to continue cooking and develop flavor with the vegetables, resulting in a juicy, tender dish—and only one casserole to wash up afterwards.
French fries
It may sound surprising, but a cast iron casserole is perfect for making French fries.
Cast iron's ability to retain heat makes it easy to maintain a stable temperature, even when you add cold potatoes to the oil.
This means you can fry on a lower heat without losing crispness.
The result is evenly golden, crispy fries with a soft interior.
Pot bread
There is a reason why so many people bake their bread in a cast iron casserole.
The casserole acts like a small oven inside the oven, trapping heat and steam close to the bread so that the dough has time to develop before the crust sets.
This results in a crispy, golden crust and a crumb that is light and elastic in just the right way.& nbsp;
A good cast iron casserole can take your home baking to the next level, whether you're making sourdough bread on a Sunday or quick pot bread on weekdays.
Steamed mussels
When steaming mussels, it's all about retaining the steam.
The tight fit between the lid and the casserole keeps the steam in the casserole and circulating, while the condensation grooves in the lid send the liquid back.& nbsp;
Add a dash of white wine, a little garlic, and fresh herbs, and you have a dish that smells of the southern French coast and tastes of summer.
And serving the mussels from a beautiful casserole makes it even more appetizing.
Slow-cooked beef stew
It is in slow-cooked dishes that an enameled cast iron casserole really shows its worth.
When you make a stew, it's all about giving the ingredients time to develop flavor – and that requires even, stable heat.
Cast iron maintains the temperature even when you turn down the heat, allowing the meat to become tender while the sauce gains depth and richness.& nbsp;
A casserole like this makes it easy to cook everything from classic boeuf bourguignon to beef brisket in red wine, where the dish needs to be left to cook on its own on the stove.
It's also fantastic when you start the dish and need to brown the meat to give it a delicious, caramelized crust before adding the vegetables and red wine.
Are you also looking to create delicious dishes in your kitchen with an enameled cast iron casserole?
You can find it right here.
