Equipment
Ingredients
Potato Topping
- 1000 g potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
- 25 g unsalted butter
- 100 ml heavy cream
Sausage Filling
- 1000 g sausage meat
- 100 g onion, diced
- 5 ml olive oil
- 800 g canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 6 g dried mixed herbs
- 2 g salt
- 1 g black pepper
Optional Topping
- 75 g cheddar cheese, grated
To Serve
- peas
- sweetcorn
Nutrition (per serving)
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
Boil the potato chunks in salted water for 15-20 minutes until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
Drain the potatoes thoroughly and mash them with the butter and a pinch of salt. Gradually incorporate the cream or milk until the texture is smooth.
Roll the sausage meat into small balls, roughly the size of a walnut.
Place the sausage balls in an oven-proof pie dish and bake for 20-25 minutes at 180°C (350°F) until they are sizzling.
In a frying pan, sauté the diced onions in olive oil over medium heat until they become soft and translucent.
Add the drained tomatoes and mixed herbs to the onions. Season with salt and pepper, bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
Pour the tomato sauce over the baked sausage balls in the pie dish, then spread the mashed potatoes evenly across the top.
Sprinkle the grated cheddar over the potatoes if using. Bake for 30 minutes at 180°C (350°F) until the topping is golden brown and the edges are bubbling.
Chef's Notes
- For extra flavorful mashed potatoes, consider adding a clove or two of roasted garlic to the mash before incorporating the butter and cream.
- Ensure your sausage meat is well-seasoned before rolling into balls, as this is the primary flavor base for the filling.
- Don't overcrowd the pie dish when arranging the sausage balls; this allows them to brown more evenly and prevents them from steaming.
- If your mashed potato topping seems a bit stiff, add a splash more warm cream or milk before spreading to ensure a smooth, creamy layer.
- For a crispier potato topping, you can briefly place the dish under the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes of baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Storage
Refrigerator: 3 days — Store in an airtight container.
Freezer: 1 month — Freeze before the final baking step for best results.
Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 170°C (340°F) until the internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F).
