Traditional Bangers and Mash—Upgraded.
Somehow, years ago, it became a tradition for us to make bangers and mash every year around St. Patrick’s Day. As with any recipe that’s been recreated year after year, little tweaks along the way have improved it to the point of near-perfection. Or at least, we think so! We’re thrilled to share the result of all that tweaking with you today! This savory, filling, delicious bangers and mash recipe gets a gustatory boost from the addition of sweet roasted garlic in the mashed potatoes (ooooh yes) and savory oven-caramelized red onions. It’s a warming, textural, gravy-drizzled supper that’s sure to soak up an Imperial pint (or two)—or even just fill hungry tummies.
Why Is It Called Bangers and Mash?
You probably know the British term ‘bangers and mash’ means a meal of sausages and mashed potatoes (usually topped with an onion gravy), but what exactly is a “banger”? What kind of sausage is that? Why is it called a banger? And why is this all so confusing? We’re here to help! The word “banger” actually doesn’t refer to any one type of sausage. Rather, a “banger” is just British slang term for sausage that probably came in to use around the time of the first world war, when rationing was in effect. To stretch the meat as far as possible, sausages in Great Britain at the time were made with lots of fillers—like water and other cheap fillers—and they had a tendency to burst (bang!) when cooked in a hot pan. Thus, “bangers”! As for ‘mash’, well, we bet you can figure that one out yourself.
Gather Your Ingredients
Now that you know a little more about the origins of bangers and mash, let’s talk ingredients! For the “mash” portion of this recipe—the mashed potatoes—we’re very partial to serving these super creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes. To make the rest of it—the onions, gravy and bangers—you’ll need:
- Bangers! We like to use mild pork sausages, but most any sausage you love will work here.
- Butter
- Flour
- Beef stock
- Red onions
- Brown sugar
- Red chili flakes
- Balsamic vinegar
How to Make Bangers and Mash
The “bangers” portion of any bangers and mash recipe is actually the fastest piece of the puzzle. Start by making the mashed potatoes—here’s our preferred mash recipe—and then move on to the onions, gravy and bangers.
- Make the oven-caramelized red onion wedges. These are different from caramelized onions cooked on the stove top. Tossed with sugar, chili flakes and balsamic vinegar, these roasted red onions are sweet and savory and, once they’re in the oven, they require nothing of you.
- Focus on the bangers! Fry the sausages in oil until they’re cooked all the way through.
- Make a quick gravy. We use the sausage drippings to whisk up a quick, beef stock-based gravy for our bangers and mash. Some bangers and mash recipes call for an onion gravy, but instead we incorporate the onion-y element in the form of those rich, oven-caramelized onions.
- Assemble! Top a big scoop of those creamy mashed potatoes with a couple of perfectly juicy bangers, a pour of gravy and caramelized onions to finish. Serve with a pint of your favorite ale!
Tools You’ll Need:
Bangers and mash is simple and comforting, but—we’ll just be straight up about this— it does use quite a few dishes. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Baking sheet.
- Frying pan.
- Tongs are handy for frying the sausages.
- A large stock pot.
- A ricer.
Sausage for Dinner!
Inexpensive, flavorful and fast, sausage is such an easy dinnertime centerpiece. Here are three more sausage recipes that are favorites in our homes:
Cheers!
We hope you love this bangers and mash recipe. It’s a big hit in our homes and if it is a hit for you, too, let us know! Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!