In association with
British Sausage Week is an annual celebration of the taste, quality and diversity of the traditional British Banger. From sausage dishes around the world to the quality of British sausage meat, we have lots to shout about – but how do you like your sausage?
When it comes to sausage dishes, there are some that spring immediately to mind. But sausages are not limited to the conventional. In honour of British Sausage Week, here is a list of things that can be done with British bangers – some traditional, some unusual, all worth trying.
With mash
Was there ever a better suited couple than bangers and mash? This simple staple has been around for centuries, gaining popularity as a cheap but filling working class meal. It is best with traditional British sausages, perhaps with your regional variety of choice, and a serving of thick onion gravy.
Glazed
The marriage of sausage flavours and textures with a sticky sweet glaze makes a winning dish. Honey alone is a popular choice, as is the combination of honey and mustard. International flavours are more than welcome here, too – honey and hoisin would make a taste-rich glaze. Roast or barbecue large glazed sausages for a delicious meal, or use chipolatas and cocktail sticks for snacking and sharing. Don’t forget to provide some dipping sauces.
With pasta
Who said bangers belong to British cuisine? Pasta is wonderfully diverse, and as this list shows, so are sausages. Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or a bubbling family bake, you should find a winner with this combination. Sausages in a pasta dish can be sliced, diced, or even crumbled – with it being so succulent, sausage meat makes a good ingredient on its own. It is a simple process of slicing a sausage’s skin open before removing the inner meat, which can then be crumbled and pan fried before serving on pasta or between sheets of lasagne. It makes an interesting alternative to minced beef, and is flavoursome enough without sauce.
It doesn’t have to stop at pasta dishes. Crumbled sausage meat can be used to stuff vegetables such as mushrooms and peppers, or can be reworked into patties with other meats and spices.
In a casserole
Casseroles present boundless opportunities. Whether you plan on slaving over a hot stove or bunging something in a slow cooker and leaving it to cook itself, sausages can easily find a home in a casserole. Beans and lentils add texture – you could try beans with red wine and sausage, or perhaps a warming mix of peppers, paprika, sausage and chorizo. Sausages also go well with mushrooms, and a creamy casserole could accommodate the pairing well.
In pastry
When it comes to pastry, it is difficult to run out of options. Pies make a warming comfort dinner, be they puff or short crust pastry. In terms of filling, you could try sausage pieces with leeks in a mustard sauce, or perhaps with cheese and onion. Sausages could even be teamed with apples for a hearty filling – after all, the South West’s signature
