Bonfire Night Warmer

Try this tasty one-pot-wonder to warm you on a cold evening!

Perfect for Bonfire Night celebrations, this hearty sausage casserole serves as a comforting and warming option as the temperatures drop and fireworks light up the night sky. This delicious recipe combines succulent sausages, flavourful beans and a rich tomato sauce, simmered to perfection for a cosy and satisfying meal to enjoy with friends and family gathered around the bonfire. Easy to prepare and bursting with savoury flavours, this sausage casserole is sure to become a favourite dish for autumn gatherings filled with warmth and wonder.

Bonfire Banger Casserole

Serves 3

Ingredients:

3 tbsp olive oil

6 large sausages (pork or vegan)

1 onion, finely sliced

1tsp sugar

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tbsp tomato purée

½ tsp smoked paprika

400g can chopped tomatoes

100ml red wine

2 bay leaves

400g can butter beans, drained but not rinsed

For the topping:

100g grated cheese (dairy or vegan)

50g fresh breadcrumbs

2 garlic cloves, finely grated

handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped

Method:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.

• Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a shallow ovenproof casserole dish or frying pan over a medium heat

•  Cut the sausages into half inch pieces diagonally and fry for 5-8 mins, or until brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate using tongs or if using frying pan to your oven proof dish.

• Tip the onions into the pan and fry for 5-8 mins until beginning to turn golden. Drizzle in a little more oil if the onions start to stick.

• Sprinkle in the sugar and cook for a minute before stirring in the vinegar, tomato purée and paprika to form a paste.

• Tip in the tomatoes, then pour the wine into the tomato can, swish it round, and add to the pan.

• Stir in the bay leaves

• Add beans and sausages into the casserole or your oven proof dish. If using frying pan, empty frying pan into ovenproof dish. Stir well.

• Bake in the oven for 30 mins.

• Mix the breadcrumbs with the garlic and parsley, then season and stir in 1 tbsp oil.

• Scatter the grated cheese and then the breadcrumb topping over the casserole, then drizzle with the remaining 1 tbsp oil and bake for 10 mins more until the breadcrumbs are golden and crisp.

• Serve with warm crusty bread or sautéed kale and a jacket potato.

Top Tip:

• You can substitute the butter beans for any tinned beans of your choice or tinned lentils!

• This would work equally well with chicken, firm fish or prawns.