In collaboration with British Sausage Week.
I make no pains to hide the fact I am a meat eater. I love meat, but only good, proper, quality meat that has been locally reared to a high standard, and treated well right until it gets to my fork.
This week (from the 31st October – 6th November) is British Sausage Week, the celebration of all things sausage. Now in its 19th year, British Sausage week aims to highlight the wide range and quality of pork sausages being produced today by British pig farmers. You’ll be glad to hear that the majority of sausages in Britain are made from fresh meat pork rather than processed meat.
Last weekend saw annual Shetland Food Fair on my remote North Sea island home. While there I picked up some hand crafted sausages from my #1 favourite sausage producer: Gateside Croft in Hillswick, Shetland, who rear a rare Iron Age breed of pork on their small family-owned croft.
Inspired by the high quality of the produce available at the fair I picked up a few other things to create a locally sourced midweek sausage meal in honour of British Sausage Week. I bought some maple glazed home cured back bacon from the Anderson Butchers in Whiteness and a bottle of White Wife Shetland Ale from the Valhalla Brewery, Britain’s most northerly brewery. This ale was named after a ghostly female figure who appears to lone male travellers on a long stretch of local road at night. I combined these ingredients with banana shallots and fresh sage from my Turriefield veg box, and voila – this beer-glazed roast Iron Age pork sausage meal was born.
The great thing about this dish is that there is very little prep. I can be really lazy when it comes to midweek meals and I don’t want to spend ages chopping and measuring out ingredients, especially when there’s the after school chaos to deal with (and so many writing deadlines!).
For this meal you simply throw the halved shallots and meat into a roasting tin, drizzle with oil and roast for 20 minutes. The remaining ingredients get whisked together in a small bowl, poured over the top of the roasting sausages, and popped back into the oven again where they reduce into a lovely, sweet, mustardy ale gravy, perfect for spooning over creamy mash. The most laborious part of the meal is peeling the potatoes (a task that can be easily delegated to younger family members!).
My husband’s first words when he taste tested my recipe creation: “Mmmm…. oh my goodness this is SO good! It’s like proper restaurant food!” Scoff. Scoff. Seconds.
I might have sat there beaming at the kitchen table. He’s not one to dish out compliments unless he genuinely feels they are deserved, so this was a fine accolade!
To serve I boiled some Turriefield potatoes with a peeled and cubed celeriac and a large clove of garlic. This was drained and mashed with butter and milk for a really delicious accompaniment with steamed kale on the side.
Sausages can be great for the whole family, not only are they versatile but the varieties of flavours available mean they can appeal to a wide group of people. They can also be great value whatever the occasion.
Sausages can be a quick, easy and tasty option for a mid-week meal – fry them, grill them, bake them – serve them with a poached egg, baked beans and oven chips or on a tower of creamy mashed potatoes. I often cook a whole pack at a time and freeze any leftovers – chopping up the defrosted sausages and reheating them with scrambled eggs, or stirring through some pasta and tomato sauce for the children.
When buying sausages look for a good quality or Red Tractor sourced pork from Britain. Sausage packets that depict a Red Tractor logo are traceable and have been produced responsibly ensuring that it is quality food you can trust.
To discover new ways to enjoy sausages visit British Sausage Week. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.
How do you like your sausages? With over 500 varieties of British bangers available there’s loads to choose from!
Beer-Glazed Roast Iron Age Pork Sausages
Ingredients
- 580 grams Iron Age pork sausages
- 150 grams banana shallots peeled and halved
- 3 rashers smoked back bacon I used maple glazed
- 2 tbsp Scottish rapeseed oil
- 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
- 2 tbsp Canadian maple syrup
- 160 ml Valhalla Brewery White Wife or other good ale
- 1 tsp cornflour dissolved in a little cold water
- 8 sage leaves torn
- Shetland sea salt I used Shetland Sea Salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 C/ 180 fan. Arrange sausages and halved shallots in a roasting tin.
- Slice the bacon into 1 cm strips and add to the roasting tin.
- Drizzle with the rapeseed oil and toss everything to coat.
- Roast in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes.
- Combine wholegrain mustard, maple syrup, beer and cornflour together in a small bowl. Pour over the sausages and stir to coat. Sprinkle with the chopped sage and return to the oven.
- Roast for a further 20 minutes until the liquid has reduced, the shallots are soft and the sausages are lovely and browned.
- Serve immediately with creamy mashed potatoes (or a mixture of potatoes and celeriac) and some steamed kale.
Notes
Environmental Information
OTHER SAUSAGE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Toadies with Onion Gravy by Jo’s Kitchen
Sausage, Feta & Tomato Filo Pie by Foodie Quine
Chorizo-style Sausage and Rigatoni Bake by Gingey Bites
Hoisin & Honey Glazed Chipolatas by the Greedy Gourmet
SHARING WITH SOME BLOG LINKIES
Recipe of the Week by A Mummy Too
This is a paid recipe commission in collaboration with British Sausage Week. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories.
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I bought some wonderful locally made and locally grown beef sausages at the local markets awhile ago and have been planning on doing something yummy for them. This recipe ticks all the boxes – I too am unashamably a meat eater as well too, and think recipes like this are the best when using really good meat. Thanks for sharing this one.
Oh wow these sound absolutely amazing -I could definitely see myself and the other half enjoying these one dinner time.
What a great meal idea – you can’t beat bangers and mash! x
I always forget how amazing sausages are roasted. That gravy looks so tasty – Would be a firm favourite in our sausage loving house!
How did I not know it was British sausage week? I’ll have to have a delayed celebration x
Hooray for locally sourced produce and good quality British sausages or Shetland sausages even. There are so many sausages that bear the British label that aren’t from British pigs at all. Terrible. It’s so good to know your supplier.
This is such a lovely idea, a meal that works for the whole family and I’ll be happy to celebrate sausage week seeign as we eat so many of them!
I love how you’ve styled these photos! Just fantastic!
Every week is sausage week in our house, I think! Love them so much. This beer glaze recipe looks perfect!
Oooh, with beer these sausages look lush. Have you ever tried making your own? Years ago, I did. The quality is so much better …. as usual!
This is just the kind of meal I love… sticky baked sausages with mash and greens… just divine!!!!! I’m definitely going to give your recipe a try and also try it with veggie sausages too. Hooray for Sausage Week!
wow thanks for sharing this recipe! Your pictures are drool-worthy!! Have to try this sometime.
wow thanks for sharing this recipe! Your pictures are drool-worthy!! Have to try this sometime.
I’ve had beer glazed bacon in a burger and it was incredible so I’m definitely keen to give your recipe ago – especially as your husband liked them so much too!
Musings & More
The food looks very tasty so not surprised it was. I wish I could make mine like this but I doubt that.
I love that your husband scoffed it immediately. It looks easy and full of flavour 🙂
This looks like such an easy and delicious dinner, I’ve got some gluten free beef I’ll have to try this!
I so wish I was in Britain for British Sausage Week! I’m not a huge meat eater but I do LOVE sausage and your beer glazed pork sausages look so insanely irresistible!
I don’t go out to eat often but when I do I will often order a good sausage and mash. Your sausage and mash looks better than any I have ever tried in a restaurant!! Now I’m hungry! Most perfect comfort food.
Hi Elizabeth!!
I agree with you regarding sausage and weekday meals!! It’s so easy and fast to make and you can serve it with anything!! Looks delicious!!
I just love the combination of sausages and kale, so this sounds perfect for me. Delicious Autumn comfort food and a great way to celebrate sausage week!
What a fun way to add some more flavor!
I had no idea that such a week existed! These sausages look great. The perfect comfort food.
These pork sausages sound sooo good & oily. I never made this type dishes. Thanks for sharing.
Love your husband’s first words! This looks amazing! I absolutely love the plating. Such a wonderful use for sausage.
I had no idea that there was a week dedicated to sausages! We love a variety of different ones. They make such a fast, easy meal. U don’t think I can find the brands here in Florida, but I’m sure I can find substitutions to make your incredible meal!
Sounds like the perfect recipe to celebrate British Sausage Week! I am not a huge meat eater but can always appreciate a quality locally sourced properly made cut of meat and am all about sausages made from real pork not all that processed stuff!
Gorgeous photos! My husband would love this meal, I will have to make it for him!
These pork sausages sound delicious! I love cooking sausage or brats with beer, such a great combination! Yum-o!
these sounds so gooood. i haven’t cooked with ale before
These look so tasty. Now we are going to have sausages tonight!