Sausage And Cider Casserole With Apples And Sage Recipes

SAUSAGE AND CIDER CASSEROLE WITH APPLES AND SAGE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole (with a lid). Add the sausages and brown them all over, then transfer to a plate.
• Add the bacon lardons to the casserole and fry for 5 minutes until the fat is crisp and brown. Transfer to the plate with the sausages.
• Drain off all but 1 tbsp of the oil from the casserole, add half the butter and, when melted, add the onions and garlic. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft and lightly browned.
• Take off the lid, stir in the parsnips and celery and cook for 2 minutes more. Stir in the tomato purée and flour, then gradually stir in the cider and stock and bring to the boil.
• Return the sausages and bacon to the casserole, then stir in the sage and mustard. Cover, put in the oven and cook for 40 minutes.
• When the casserole is ready, melt the remaining butter in a non-stick frying pan. Quarter, core and slice the apples into wedges. Add them to the pan and fry gently for 2-3 minutes until golden all over and just tender. Season with a little salt and pepper.
• Remove the casserole from the oven, stir in the apples and season to taste (add a squeeze of lemon if you think it needs it). Sprinkle with the fried sage leaves, if using. Serve with baked potatoes or mash and greens.

SAUSAGE HASH WITH APPLES & SAGE

Steps:

• Heat 2 Tbs. oil over low heat in a 12-inch non-stick skillet (so potatoes don't stick). While skillet heats, prepare onion and Italian sausage as directed above. A few minutes before cooking, increase heat to medium-high. When oil starts to send up wisps of smoke, add onion and sausage; cook, stirring often, until golden brown. Meanwhile, dice potatoes and apples and toss with remaining oil. Transfer sausage mixture to a bowl and reserve.
• Add potato mixture to empty skillet; cook, stirring only occasionally so they form a golden-brown crust, about 10 minutes. As potatoes cook, mix ketchup, mustard, dried sage and fresh parsley and 2 Tbs. of water. (Recipe can be prepared to this point up to 2 hours ahead. Spread hot potatoes on a large lipped cookie sheet; cover when cool. Return skillet to medium-high; add potatoes and re-crisp.)
• Return reserved sausage mixture to skillet; stir in ketchup mixture, then season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until hash has nicely browned, about 5 minutes longer.

SAUSAGE, LEEK AND APPLE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut the bacon into slices and brown it in a pan for a few minutes with the sausages. You can use cooking spray if you like but the bacon usually makes enough fat of it's own to help the sausages along.
• While the meat is browning, cut the mushrooms in half, cube the apple, slice the leek and cut the carrot into batons.
• When the meat is done, put it to one side in the crock pot / casserole dish along with the mushrooms and apple. Add the remaining veg (leek and carrot) to the pan to soften a little.
• After a couple of minutes, sprinkle the flour over the veg and mix through (the flour thickens the sauce, but if you prefer a more watery gravy then you can omit this step).
• Add the cider to the pan - it will bubble up to begin with but don't worry about it. Turn up the heat and cook for a couple of minutes to burn the alcohol off (I sniff-test it and cook until it stops smelling boozy).
• Transfer all the ingredients in the pan to the crock pot / casserole dish (cider and all).
• Now this is where you have to use your judgement a bit! I find 300ml water is usually about right to top up my crock pot, but you may find you need a bit more/less depending on the exact amount of ingredients you have used (ie. size of sausages, carrot, etc.). So as not to waste any of the stock cube, I crumble it into the crock pot without dissolving it in water first and then add as much water as is needed to JUST cover all the ingredients.
• CROCKPOT: Cook on Low for 8-9hrs or Medium for around 5hrs.
• OVEN: I've never actually made this in the oven but have no doubt it would work just as well. I would imagine that, if you cover the casserole dish and cook it at around 150 degrees it should be done in a couple of hours.

SCRUMPY SAUSAGE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Lightly fry the sausages in some oil, we only want to colour them, they don't need to be cooked through
• In the same pan, add the onion and cook for a 5 minutes on a low heat to soften (not brown), then add the leek, followed by the carrots. Mix well and simmer for a few more minutes. Add a splash of water if the pan is becoming too dry.
• Add the flour to the pan and make sure the vegetables are all coated, cook for 30 seconds more.
• Add the apple, then the cider, wait until it bubbles for a few seconds then add the chicken stock. Stir well. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook on a very low heat for around an hour.
• After an hour, check the casserole. Season with salt and pepper to taste. It should be slightly thick, but not too thick. If you'd like the casserole a bit thicker, let it simmer with the top off until you have the desired consistency.
• Serve with crusty bread and butter. Lovely!

SAUSAGE AND APPLE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in a large pan on a medium heat, fry the sausages 5 mins turning frequently.
• 2. Scatter over the onion, and cook for another 5 mins until softened.
• 3. Increase the heat and add the rosemary and apples, and cook for 3-4 minutes till the apple changes colour.
• 4. Add the cranberry sauce and mustard to the stock and stir, then add the stock to the pan too.
• 5. Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 10 mins.
• 6. Season to taste and serve with mashed potatoes (sweet potatoes work well with this dish)