Sausage, Lentil & Cider Stew

Photo © Anne-Marie Minhall

My head is back in the Simple Suppers book by Rick Stein.

It's been a busy time & I'm looking for a dish to sustain me for the next few days with minimum effort.

Ta da!

Sausage, Lentil & Cider Stew.

Here's what Rick says about it ..

"This is the sort of dish that’s good to leave a trayful of in the kitchen, keeping warm, so everybody can help themselves when they come in on a cold evening from football practice, fireworks, Brownies, swimming lessons or just a walk."

Well, none of the above for me (I went to Brownies once only. Brown Owl told my parents it probably wasn't for me because I talked a lot. Who knew? Anyway, their loss & tactfully, I wasn't informed until I was old enough to deal with that news!). A day's work and commute is what I'd add to that list.

I adapted Rick's recipe & this is what I gathered. Lasted me three days ..

Oil 

4 Sausages (I went for Cumberland - a Robert favourite as well I believe)

15g Butter

1 Red Onion, chopped

2 Garlic Cloves, chopped

2 Celery Sticks, chopped

2 Carrots, cut into small dice

1tbsp Plain Flour, heaped

200ml Cider

250ml Chicken Stock

2-3 Thyme Sprigs

200g Ready-cooked Puy Lentils

Seasoning

Soy sauce 

A handful of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped 

Heat the oil in a shallow, flameproof casserole dish. Add the sausages & brown them all over, then continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Remove them from the pan & set aside on a plate

Melt the butter in the pan, add the onion, garlic, celery & carrots & fry gently for 5 minutes, or until softened 

Add the flour & cook for 1 minute, then pour in the cider & stock & add the thyme. Bring to the boil to thicken for a minute or so.

Cut each sausage into 3 pieces on the diagonal & add back to the pan. Stir in the lentils, turn the heat down to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for a few more minutes, until warmed through. 

A comforting feed this one especially with some fluffy, buttery mash & green beans. There was a spoonful of Colmans English on the side.

The bangers are the star of this show. Let them shine.

AMM