Tuesday 9 September 2014

Slow cooker sausage and bean casserole

As I'm sitting here writing in the evening it is already dark. You can't deny it – autumn is on its way and next month the clocks will be changing. August came and went but although it wasn't a washout it wasn't exactly a heatwave either. I bought a pack of salad potatoes I guess more in hope than anticipation of lazy summer meals. Half of them did get used but the rest were banished to the back of the fridge. I knew of only one way these were going to be used up – get them into the slow cooker.

Salad potatoes are great for one pot slow cooker or casserole meals. Other potatoes cook down to mush but salad potatoes keep their shape. There's minimal preparation to this dish so it's perfect to put together in a hurry and then have the pleasure of it all being ready when you get home for dinner. I've just used carrots but you could add other root vegetables such as parsnips or swede.


Serves 4

Ingredients

8 Sausages
1 Onion, chopped
1 400-420g Tin baked beans or mixed beans in tomato sauce
¼ pint (150ml) Vegetable stock
1tbsp (15ml) Tomato purée
2 Carrots, chopped
1tsp (5ml) Henderson's Relish or Worcestershire Sauce
8 Salad potatoes, scraped (I used Charlotte)
1tbsp (15ml) Mixed fresh herbs, chopped (oregano, thyme, sage) or 1tsp (5ml) dried mixed herbs

Method

1. Pre-heat the slow cooker to High.
2. Prepare all the ingredients and add them to the slow cooker.
3. Reduce the temperature to Low and cook for 6-8 hours.

Serve with crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Linking up with No Waste Food Challenge with Elizabeth at Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary and this month's guest host Chef Mireille at Chef Mireille's East West Realm.




23 comments:

  1. OOh this sounds amazing. One thing I love about Autumn is using my slow cooker x

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    1. I find it such a relief that when we come home in the evening dinner is all ready.

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  2. I do love all the heart warming dinners that mean the arrival of autumn!

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    1. It's lovely to come in from the chill and smell dinner cooking.

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  3. what a great idea. I ought to use our slow cooker more.

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    1. I think with slow cookers you either use them all the time or they gather dust in the corner.

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  4. I love sausage and bean casseroles and it's that time of the year now the leaves are changing colour that I'll be bringing out the slow cooker more and indulging in some good comfort food like this!

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    1. I love slow cooker meals and the way the smell and warmth fills the house.

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  5. Oh I am going to try this. Thanks for the recipe x

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  6. Brill recipe. I LOVE my sloe cook with an indecent amount of passion!

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    1. I'm always looking for ways to use my slow cooker. I've had one since I was at university.

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  7. This looks so yummy, its one of my favourite times of the year so I will getting my slowcooker out and giving this a go xx

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    1. I never put mine away but I do love a slow cooker meal.

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  8. Not for me being a veggie but my partner would die for this as its one of his favs :)

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    1. I sometimes use vegetarian sausages as well in the slow cooker.

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  9. I purchased a slow cooker a while ago....used it about 3 times....must start experimenting more with it!

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  10. Oh wow that looks delicious. I don't have a slow cooker but definitely need to invest in one!

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  11. My slow cooker will be making an appearance very soon and we love sausage casserole, stews and soups. This looks lovely x

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  12. This sounds like a great one pot meal will try it with veggie sausages.

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  13. Going to try and add it to my repertoire this weekend

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  14. I have just got a slow cooker, I'm looking forward to using it more. Thanks for sharing x

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I appreciate your comments. If you have any tips, tricks or tweaks please pass them on!