Tuesday 8 June 2010

Spicy Bean Stew with Sausages - Part 73

I had visitors arriving from Northern France last night - Monday evening.  I had no idea what time they would arrive and I thought that this dish was the ideal dinner.  I cooked it early in the day and then just heated it up when they arrived.   We had pate and French bread as a starter, then followed up this very filling dish with cheese and bread.  No pudding was required!!

There was quite a lot, and what was left over disappeared at breakfast this morning with croissants!


Spicy Bean Stew with Sausages
This is a James Martin Recipe from Sainsbury's Magazine March 2008

Serves 6

3 tablesp oil
12 good free-range pork sausages (I used German Bockwurst sausages)
6 rashers of bacon (Difficult to find in France so I used lardons which are easily available)
1 med red onion
2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
1 red chilli (or more to taste) chopped
1 tablesp dark soft brown sugar
2 x 400gr tins plum or chopped tomatoes
Dash of red or white wine (I used wine instead of the water* see below. A dash did not seem worth the effort!)
2 x 410 tins cannellini beans drained and rinsed. (I used beans soaked overnight then pre cooked)
1 x 410 g tin kidney beans drained and rinsed.
Leaves from fresh parsley.

(I also added 4 chopped carrots to this casserole)


Place a large heavy based saucepan on the hob and heat the oil. Add the sausages and fry over a medium heat, turning them over until they are browned. Take them out of the pan, halve them (across the width) and set aside.

Add a little extra oil if necessary, turn the heat to low and add the bacon and the onion and fry gently for about 10mins stirring from time to time so they don't stick to the bottom. They will pick up the lovely sausage goo from the saucepan.

Add the garlic and chilli and fry for another couple of mins then add the sugar. Pour in the tomatoes, wine and 275 ml of water*. Stir in the sausages and the beans. (Also carrots if using).


Bring to the boil then cover and cook for 15 to 20 mins over a low to medium heat until the sausages are well cooked through.  (I did cook for longer than this to make sure the beans were well cooked as I had not used tinned ones)

To Serve: taste and season and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve with fresh crusty bread or mashed potatoes.
This dish was quite delicious. It can be made up to two days in advance or frozen. 

16 comments:

  1. I love things that are not time sensitive. Nothing worse than late guests and a spoiled dinner... sort of gets the evening off to a bad start. All those lovely beans look so good!!!

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  2. longpastremembered, I try to cook mostly things which are not time sensitive but it is not always possible. Diane

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  3. This is SO unfair of you Diane!! You keep on putting these wonderful recipes on your blog when I am starving and I have to sit here listening to my stomach growling!!

    LOL!! LOL!!

    I am going out to supper tonight so I did not bring anything with me to eat for lunch or else it will spoil my appetite. This sounds like a GREAT recipe for when you dont know what time people are arriving or even on a cold winters night like we are having here. I think I am going to get the ingredients and make it then freeze it as it sounds like something which will freeze well. Then I only need to take out a portion to heat up. One amendment though .... I think it is going to be more than a "dash" of wine. LOL!!

    Thanks for sharing this.

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  4. Hi Joan hope you enjoy your meal out tonight.

    Yes I agree, a dash of wine seems hardly worthwhile which is why I did not bother with water:) Red wine with the meal and there was quite a bit of cognac drunk after the meal. The comment this morning was there was no window open in there room last night and they had fuzzy heads LOL don't think the window had anything to do with it.

    I also added some carrots to this recipe to make a bit more, I am told that carrots are good for reversing the action that beans may cause:) Diane

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  5. Any dish with bacon has to be fabulous! I love the combination of ingredients in your recipe.

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  6. Hi Linda, It seemed to go down very well, nothing left after breakfast! Diane

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  7. Diane, this sounds delicious! I love all the beans with the sausage and bacon. Bacon makes everything taste better but I get so confused with rashers and lardons... :-) Hope you enjoyed your company and had are having a good day!

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  8. The dish does look so delicious! Sometimes you just have to use what you have!

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  9. What a perfect dish for a meal of uncertain time. It sounds really delicious. I hope you enjoyed your guests and had a great visit. Have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  10. Hi Pam, Thanks for the comments, it was good having friend here for a couple of days. Suddenly it is very quiet again! Diane

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  11. Hi Lyndsey, it was delicious and it will certainly be made again. Diane

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  12. Thanks Mary, the visit was great though a little rushed! Now to get back to normal. Have a good day. Diane

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  13. That sounds yummy. I like bean dishes. Have yourself a good day. Becca

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  14. Thanks Becca. Hope you are feeling better. Diane

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  15. Mmmmm ... this looks tasty and like just the thing I'd like to cook - and eat !

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  16. Hi Lynda, it is tasty and so easy to cook as well. Diane

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