• Some say that it appeared after the discovery of the new world by Christopher Columbus. The beans, which make it up, were originally imported from the Americas by him.
• Others say that during the "100 years war" (1337 – 1453), when Castelnaudary was under siege. The mayor of the city ordered the preparation of one dish, made up of all the foods available, so the besieged would keep a full stomach.
• Finally some think that the cassoulet was brought by the Arabs during the 12th century. They brought with them the white "broad bean" which they prepared with sheep. The  "broad bean" being later replaced with the beans Christopher Columbus brought back from the Americas.

Many villages in the South-West (Sud-ouest: Toulouse region) have their own recipe for cassoulet.

Most consider the village of Castelnaudary the official cassoulet capital of the world. If you are traveling between Toulouse and Carcassonne, you can stop in this beautiful village and have a delicious and filling cassoulet lunch or dinner.