Sausage Casserole

Description

Preparation takes less than 30 minutes, with cooking time between 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Serves 6 people.

Ingredients

• 1–2 tbsp sunflower oil
• 12 good-quality pork sausages
• (Optional) Pad out fewer sausages with yummy mushrooms
• 6 rashers rindless streaky bacon, cut into 2-3cm lengths
• 2 onions, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• ½–1 tsp hot chilli powder or smoked paprika
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 300ml/10fl oz chicken stock
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp dark muscovado sugar
• 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
• 2 bay leaves
• 3–4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 100ml red or white wine (optional)
• 400g tin butter beans / mixed beans / chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

To Serve:

• Mashed potatoes, rice or rustic bread slices, to serve

Method

• Heat a tablespoon of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the sausages gently for 10 minutes, turning every now and then until nicely browned all over, then transfer to a large saucepan or a flameproof casserole dish and set aside.
• Fry the bacon in the frying pan until starting to brown and crisp, then add to the dish with the sausages.
• Add the onions2 onions, thinly sliced (and mushrooms if using) to the frying pan and fry over a medium heat for 5 minutes until they start to soften, stirring often, adding a little more oil if needed.
• Add the garlic2 garlic cloves, crushed and cook for 2–3 minutes until the onions2 onions, thinly sliced turn pale golden brown, stirring frequently.
• Sprinkle over the chilli powder and cook together for a few seconds longer.
• Stir in the tomatoes400g tin chopped tomatoes, stock, tomato purée2 tbsp tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mixed herbs1 tsp dried mixed herbs, bay leaves2 bay leaves and thyme3–4 fresh thyme sprigs.
• Pour in the wine100ml red or white wine (optional), or some water if you’re not using wine100ml red or white wine (optional), and bring to a simmer.
• Tip the tomato mixture carefully into the pan with the sausages and bacon and return to a simmer.
• Reduce the heat, cover the pan loosely with a lid and leave to simmer very gently for 20 minutes, stirring from time to time.
• Stir the beans into the casserole, and continue to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick.
• Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve with rice or slices of rustic bread.