SEASON SAUSAGE RECIPES

Steps:

• Place the sausages in a large non-stick casserole pan on a medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and brown for 10 minutes, turning regularly, then remove to a plate, leaving the pan on the heat. Meanwhile, peel the potatoes, chop into even-sized chunks and cook in a large pan of boiling salted water for 15 minutes, or until tender, then drain and leave to steam dry. Mash well with half the mustard, then season to perfection. Trim, wash and chop the carrots and leeks into 2cm chunks. Stir into the fat in the pan and cook for 15 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly, and adding a splash of water, if needed. Stir the HP sauce and remaining mustard into the veg, then pour in the beans, juice and all. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with the spoon, then stir in 1 tin’s worth of water. Bring to the boil and cook for another 10 minutes, then season to perfection. Preheat the grill to high. Score the sausages at ½cm intervals and sit them cut side up in the stew. As soon as the mash is cool enough to handle, divide it into four compact balls, push them into the stew and brush with 2 tablespoons of oil. Grill on the top shelf of the oven for 15 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
  2. Peel the potatoes, chop into even-sized chunks and cook in a large pan of boiling salted water for 15 minutes, or until tender.
  3. Meanwhile, brown the sausages in a large non-stick casserole pan on a medium heat, tossing regularly (if using veggie sausages, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil), while you trim the leeks, halve lengthways, wash and slice 1cm thick.
  4. Peel, core and chop the apples into 1cm chunks. Once golden, remove the sausages to a plate, put the leek and apple into the pan and strip in most of the thyme. Add a splash of water, season with sea salt and black pepper, then cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Drain the potatoes, mash with half the flour, then season to perfection. Lightly rub a 20cm x 28cm baking dish with oil. Once the mash is cool enough to handle, use your fingertips to spread two thirds of it evenly across the base and sides of the dish.
  6. Stir the remaining flour into the leeks, then gradually stir in the milk, then the mustard. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until thick and creamy.
  7. Slice the sausages 1cm thick and stir most of them into the pan, along with any juices, then evenly spoon into the mash-lined dish.
  8. Press the remaining mash on to a sheet of greaseproof paper until just bigger than your dish, then flip over the top of the dish, peel off the paper, trim any excess and crimp the edges with a fork to seal.
  9. Poke the reserved sausage slices into the top, then gently brush with 1 tablespoon of oil. Bake at the bottom of the oven for 40 minutes, or until golden, adding the remaining thyme leaves for the last 5 minutes.