English Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy Recipe

British Bites

Classic british dishes updated for the modern American cook.

Sydney Oland
English Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy Recipe

[Photograph: Sydney Oland]

Bangers and mash are a British pub classic, a combination of fatty pork sausages with buttery potatoes that's perfect for soaking up an afternoon's worth of ale. A rich onion gravy is the sauce that holds the whole thing together, ideally made with homemade beef stock. To complete the meal, serve this with brown ale and a strong mustard on the side.

Note: Bangers are a British pork sausage. If they are unavailable, any mild pork sausage can be used in their place.

  • Yield:serves 4
  • Active time: 35 minutes
  • Total time:35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
  • Kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup milk
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 medium onions, thinly sliced (about 3 cups sliced onions)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 1/2 cups store-bought or homemade low-sodium beef or chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 8 bangers (about 2 pounds, see note)

Directions

  1. 1.

    Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Season well with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and cook until potatoes are soft, about 10 minutes. Drain and place back in saucepan, add 3 tablespoons butter and 2/3 cup milk, and mash with a potato masher, adding more milk if a looser consistency is desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

  2. 2.

    Heat remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until melted. Add onions and bay leaf and cook, stirring often, until onions are brown, about 15 minutes.

  3. 3.

    Sprinkle with flour and mix until flour is evenly incorporated with onions. Stirring constantly, slowly pour stock over onion mixture. Bring to a simmer over high heat, stirring often, then lower heat to medium and cook until thickened, about 6 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and keep warm.

  4. 4.

    Heat vegetable oil in a large stainless steel skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Reduce heat to medium-low. Place bangers in the skillet and cook until browned on one side, about 5 minutes; flip bangers and cover. Cook until bangers are fully cooked, about 6 minutes longer.

  5. 5.

    Divide mash between 4 plates, place 2 bangers on each pile of mash, and top with onion gravy. Serve with brown ale and extra gravy and strong mustard passed alongside.