RECIPE: Veggie Sausage Casserole

It's the weekend and it's getting chillier so what better time to cook a hearty casserole to make you feel all cosy and Autumnal. This really is easy and can be stretched to feed as many as you like! A (nearly) one pot wonder too, which is always good on the washing up front. This is a recipe adapted slightly from the original one by The Hairy Bikers, you can find that one here. This version is vegetarian friendly (duh, you're on a vegetarian food blog!) If you're short on time, you don't have to put it in the oven, you can serve it straight from the pan. It's just a bit richer from having it in the oven for a while. 

Serves 3 - 4

2 veg sausages each 

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

2 tins chopped tomatoes

2 cans butter beans 

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons tomato puree

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon mixed herbs

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 bay leaves

salt and pepper

1. Cook your sausages, no-one likes a frosty sausage. When cooked through, place in an oven proof dish.

2. Fry the onions gently until they start to soften, a good 5-7 minutes.

3. Add garlic to onions and cook for another 3 minutes.

3. Add paprika and cook for another 1 minute.

4. Add tomatoes, puree, herbs and brown sugar. Add the rinsed butter beans.

5. Add mixture to open proof dish on top of sausages. Bake at Gas 4/180°C for 30 minutes.

I eat mine with a baked potato but you can serve yours with whatever you fancy. I think it's the little bit of brown sugar that makes this rich and delicious. Perfect for warming up a miserable Winter evening!