Sausage and Apple Casserole

When you come home with nothing for dinner, a Sausage and Apple Casserole can be whipped up and ready to eat in 45 minutes.

Sausage and Apple Casserole

Of course, it will take a little longer if you have to defrost the sausages (as I did this week). But they defrosted beautifully in the microwave and didn't take much longer than making a cup of tea and the preparation for the casserole.

Key Ingredients in Sausage and Apple Casserole

Sausages

I always keep sausages in the freezer, although I'm careful to choose good quality ones. Sausages can contain all sorts of undesirable bits of meat and lots of filler, so it pays to shop around.

Buy from the butcher or the farm but, failing that, a premium sausage from the supermarket will do. Look for the highest meat content and then choose the flavour.

For this casserole, a plain sausage is good, but the sauce complements any flavoured sausage that I've seen. My current favourites are from Field & Flower (who will give you 20% off your first order).

Apples

I use cooking apples for preference in the sausage and apple casserole, but if you don't have any, eaters are fine. They need a bit more cooking so add them to the pan with the pepper.

If you buy cooking apples specifically for this casserole, you can make an apple crumble with what's left. A perfect pairing.

Peppers

The pepper can be any colour you like or have. If I buy a pepper for cooking, I mostly choose a green one. They aren't as sweet and add a slightly different flavour, but it's marginal and I used a yellow one in this.

I am quite fanatical about removing the seeds. I don't like the texture and they can look odd. These days they aren't hot, so you don't risk that burning sensation. If they don't bother you, leave them in.

Seasoning

I always have a pot or tube of garlic puree in the house so that no actual garlic isn't a problem. If I'm cooking a big batch of something like Bolognese Sauce, I'll buy the real thing. Otherwise, I'm too often left with a wizened garlic bulb, which doesn't taste as good and seems such a waste.

Once the casserole is cooking on the hob, there is just time to boil some pasta and steam some veg. I had mine with carrots and green beans (and apple crumble).

How to make it gluten-free

• Buy gluten-free sausages – easy to find in most supermarkets

• Use gluten-free flour. Doves Farm make a range of good substitutes for wheat flour

• Check your Worcester Sauce label. If it’s gluten-free it should say so. Biona make a GF Worcester Sauce.

If you like this...

...Why don't you try:

Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole

One-step Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole is a ‘chuck it in and leave it to cook all day’ recipe.

Giant Sausage Roll

 Serve Giant Sausage Roll straight from the oven for a tasty supper or lunch, or eat it cold.

One-pot Mince and Pasta

Most of the ingredients for this are in your store cupboard. Just add mince and onions for quick and easy mince and pasta - all cooked in one saucepan.

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Sausage and Apple Casserole

A warming casserole ready in 45 minutes. A favourite with all the family.

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: British

Servings: 4 servings

Author: [email protected] Cooks

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion
• 1 medium pepper, any colour
• 250 g cooking apples
• 1-2 cloves garlic or 2 teaspoon garlic puree
• 100 g streaky bacon
• 2 teaspoons oil for cooking (10ml)
• 8 large sausages
• 1 tablespoon plain flour (15 ml)
• 120 ml stock
• 400 g canned chopped tomatoes, 1 can
• 1 tablespoon tomato puree heaped tablespoon (30ml)
• 1 tablespoon Worcester sauce (15 ml)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Pepper

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Equipment

Large frying pan with lid

Apple corer

Instructions

Preparation:

• Peel and chop the onion
• De-seed and chop the pepper
• Peel, core and chop the apple
• Peel and crush or finely chop the garlic (if using fresh)
• Finely chop the parsley
• Cut the bacon into strips

For the casserole:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, on a medium-high heat When hot, cook the sausages, bacon and onion for 2-3 minutes, stirring all the time
• Add the pepper and garlic and cook for a further 3-4 minutes. Add the apple and cook for another 1 minute

  The sausages should be beginning to brown
• Remove the meat and vegetables from the pan
• Turn the heat down to medium. Add the flour and a teaspoon (5ml) more oil if necessary and stir in well. Add the stock, tomatoes, tomato puree, Worcester sauce and salt. Stir to combine well
• Return the meat and vegetables back to the pan and bring to the boil. Put the lid on the pan and turn the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes
• Add ground pepper and more salt to taste, and stir again. Cook for a further 5 minutes.