If you are looking for a “one shoe fits all” meal , go no further. It’s a great stew on a cold night that takes very little time to prepare, doesn’t need side dishes and freezes well if you have leftovers.
The recipe (and name) comes from the UK’s Hairy Bikers. Don’t let the name scare you off!
The recipe feeds 6 people
Ingredients
- 1–2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 12 good quality pork sausages (or Chorizo if you want extra flavour)
- 6 rashers rindless streaky bacon, cut into 2.5cm/1in lengths
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- ½–1 tsp hot chilli powder or smoked paprika
- 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
- 300ml chicken stock
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp dark brown muscovado sugar
- 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
- 2 bay leaves
- 3–4 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 100ml red or white wine (optional)
- 1 x 400g can butter beans or mixed beans
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preperation Directions
- 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. Transfer to a large saucepan or a flameproof casserole dish and set aside.
- Fry the bacon pieces in the frying pan until they begin to brown and crisp then add to the sausages. Place the onions in the frying pan and fry over a medium heat for five minutes until they start to soften, stirring often. You should have enough fat in the pan, but if not, add a little more oil.
- Add the garlic and cook for 2–3 minutes more until the onions turn pale golden-brown, stirring frequently. Sprinkle over the chilli powder or smoked paprika and cook together for a few seconds longer.
- Stir in the tomatoes, chicken stock, tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and herbs. Pour over the wine, or some water if you’re not using wine, and bring to a simmer.
- Tip carefully into the pan with the sausages and bacon and return to a simmer, then reduce the heat, cover the pan loosely with a lid and leave to simmer very gently for 20 minutes, stirring from time to time.
- Drain the beans and rinse them in a sieve under cold running water. 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.
About 1888 Team
The team at 1888 certified are always on the lookout for new and interesting dishes that are easy to prepare and great to eat. We have the benefit of having some self confessed “food…