Simple Bangers and Mash

Hello and welcome! Today we have the classic UK dish, Bangers and Mash. Talk about comfort food! Even if you didn’t grow up eating this dish, there are few things more comforting than creamy mashed potatoes and sausages, cloaked in a savory and slightly sweet onion gravy. A perfect cold-day meal, this Simple Bangers and Mash is hearty fare, super satisfying and so delicious. Let’s get right to it!

This is another recipe from the new issue of Cook’s Illustrated. They really hit it out of the park with this issue! I am using Bratwurst instead of the traditional Cumberland Sausages. I am also swapping out the Marmite in favor of Roasted Beef Better Than Bouillon. This post is all about the Bangers and Onion Gravy, so use your favorite recipe for the mashed potatoes. Or you can make my Cauliflower Mashies. Make your mash first, they will keep hot in the oven while you make the rest.

This recipe for Bangers and Mash features a delicious meaty, onion gravy. For the gravy, we have beef broth, the aforementioned Roasted Beef Better than Bouillon, dry mustard, fresh thyme and rosemary, kosher salt and pepper; we will thicken the gravy with a cornstarch slurry, enrich it with a little butter, and we will brighten the gravy at the end with a little red wine vinegar.

Bangers and Onion Gravy

Let’s start with browning the sausages over medium heat, in a large skillet with about 1 tablespoon of grapeseed or vegetable oil. Brown the sausages evenly on two sides. Then add the sliced onions to the skillet. Use tongs to nestle the sausages on top of the onions. Add 1/2 cup of water to the skillet then cover and steam the sausages for about 10 minutes. Turn the sausages over once during the steaming.

Temp the sausages, we are looking for 160-165 degrees. When they’re cooked through, transfer the bratwurst to a plate and tent with foil.

Spread the onions out evenly in the skillet and let them cook, undisturbed for 5 minutes. While the onion slices are cooking, in a 4 cup measuring cup, whisk together the beef broth, Better Than Bouillon, dry mustard, fresh thyme and rosemary. This will be the gravy base.

Give the onions a stir and keep cooking until the onion slices are browning and a fond is developing on the bottom of the pan. Stir in the sugar, kosher salt and black pepper.

Add the broth mixture and increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Scrape up any fond from the bottom of the pan and cook the broth and onions until the gravy is thickened and reduced slightly. Whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon water and the cornstarch. Then whisk the cornstarch slurry into the gravy and and cook until the gravy is thick, like heavy cream. Then cut the heat.

Off heat, whisk in the butter, one piece at a time. Stir in red wine vinegar, season with kosher salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Simple Bangers and Mash

We are ready to serve! In wide shallow bowls, spoon a serving of mashed potatoes, top with a couple sausages and top with the onion gravy.

So satisfying! The onions bring a savory and sweet flavor to the gravy, which is also richly flavored with the Roasted Beef Better Than Bouillon. The little bit of red wine vinegar at the end really does brighten it all up. A perfect bite can be had again and again, with creamy mashed potatoes, a slice of sausage, and a swipe of gravy.

Thanks so much for joining me today! I do hope you give this Simple Bangers and Mash a try! It’s a wonderfully comforting meal – especially in the cold of winter. Looking for another comforting dish from the UK? Try my Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower Mashies. Take care and be well, xo Kelly

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Simple Bangers and Mash

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Dinner, Main Course – British

By Steve Dunn, Cook's Illustrated – Serves: 2-6

Prep Time: 15 Minutes – Cooking Time: 35-40 Minutes – Total Time: ~1 Hour

There are few things more comforting than creamy mashed potatoes, topped with sausages, cloaked in a savory and slightly sweet onion gravy.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. Grapeseed or Vegetable Oil
• 6 Links of Cumberland Sausages or Bratwurst
• 2 onions, halved and sliced thinly
• 1/2 cup Water, plus 1 tablespoon, divided
• 2.5 cups Beef Broth
• 1 tbsp. Marmite or Roasted Beef Better Than Bouillon
• 1 tsp. Dry Mustard
• 1 tsp. Minced Fresh Thyme
• 1/2 tsp. Minced Fresh Rosemary
• 1.25 tsp. Sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt
• 1 tbsp. Cornstarch
• 2 tbsp. Unsalted Butter, cut in 2 pieces
• 1 tsp. Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 tbsp. Minced Fresh Parsley

Instructions

1

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, brown the sausages on two sides.

2

Then add the sliced onions to the skillet. Use tongs to nestle the sausages on top of the onions. Add 1/2 cup of water to the skillet then cover and steam the sausages for about 10 minutes. Turn the sausages over once during the steaming.

3

Temp the sausages, we are looking for 160-165 degrees. When they're cooked through, transfer the bratwurst to a plate and tent with foil.

4

Spread the onions out evenly in the skillet and let them cook, undisturbed for 5 minutes.

5

While the onion slices are cooking, in a 4 cup measuring cup, whisk together the beef broth, Better Than Bouillon, dry mustard, fresh thyme and rosemary.

6

Give the onions a stir and keep cooking until the onion slices are browning and a fond is developing on the bottom of the pan. Stir in the sugar, kosher salt and black pepper.

7

Add the broth mixture and increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Scrape up any fond from the bottom of the pan and cook the broth and onions until the gravy is thickened and reduced slightly.

8

Whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon water and the cornstarch. Then whisk the cornstarch slurry into the gravy and and cook until the gravy is thick, like heavy cream. Then cut the heat.

9

Off heat, whisk in the butter, one piece at a time. Stir in red wine vinegar, season with kosher salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

10

Serve the bangers over mashed potatoes and top with onion gravy.

Notes

***This post is all about the Bangers and Onion Gravy, so use your favorite recipe for the mashed potatoes. Or you can make my Cauliflower Mashies. Make your mashed potatoes first, they will can keep hot in the oven while you make the rest.

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