Cider Braised Sausages

I like to make even the simplest ingredients into something ’posh’! These sausages are just the posh nosh I am talking about. The good thing about this recipe is that once you’ve cooked everything in the skillet, you can pop it in the crock for later, or in a casserole dish and just leave it on the hob for an hour or so. I prefer the crock method, simply because it takes longer to cook, if you prep all the stuff and then stick it in the crock on those busy days when time is a rare commodity it’s just one less thing to worry about. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to prepare, then it goes in the crock. Hardly anytime at all and you have the rest of the day to get on with all the mundane chores, that need doing in the blissful knowledge that when the day is done, the most effort you are going to have to make to get dinner on the table is a side or two of your choice and to spoon it onto plates! Regardless though of whether you do it in the crockpot or the oven I think you’ll agree that this is a pretty good recipe. At least I hope you do.

Cider Braised Sausage Casserole

6 of your favourite sausages

425ml strong cider

1tbsp cider vinegar

2 large apples, cored and sliced into rings

1tbsp crushed juniper berries

2tbsp Olive oil

1 large onion peeled and sliced into rings

1-2 garlic cloves, depending on your taste, minced

225g smoked bacon, roughly chopped

1tbsp plain flour

1tsp dried thyme

2 bay leaves

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

1.       Over a medium heat, in a large skillet (or casserole pot) heat 1tbsp of the oil and then brown the sausages. Once they are browned transfer them to a plate lined with kitchen paper.

2.       Add the onions, garlic and bacon to the skillet and cook for about 10 minutes, until the onions have softened and the bacon is starting to crisp. Throw away the kitchen paper and place your onions and bacon on the plate too.

3.       Next add the remaining tbsp. of oil to the skillet, when it is hot cook the apples, browning them on both sides, then put them in the crockpot with the other ingredients. Mix the flour with a little water, then add the cider, vinegar and flour mixture to the crock (or casserole) stir gently adding the herbs and seasoning with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer on a low heat, can be left in the crockpot to do its thing for several hours, if you are using a casserole dish on the hob it will take about an hour. Serve with mashed potato and veggies of your choice.