Video summary

The Hairy Bikers' Sausage Casserole | This Morning

Main summary

Key takeaways

Cooking

Presenter / Channel

  • The Hairy Bikers — referencing their book British classics (including “sausage casserole… beer and sausage casserole”).
  • They also mention/appear in relation to ITV’s This Morning.

Ingredients (with quantities if mentioned)

  • Sausages
    • Type mentioned: peppery sausages (e.g., Cumberland)
  • Celery, carrots, onions
    • Quantities not given
  • Beer
    • “a good bottle of beer” (brown ale)
  • Brown sugar
    • Quantity not specified
  • Stock
    • Quantity not specified
  • Worcestershire sauce
    • “some” / “couple” mentioned, not precisely quantified
  • Bay leaves
    • “a couple”
  • Leaves (possible mix-up: “pivot leaf” vs bay leaf)
    • Notes that if they couldn’t get the specific leaves, they used what was available, sometimes “fished it out” later (no exact amount).
  • Leeks
    • Added later; quantity not specified
  • Cornflour + water
    • Used as a slurry to thicken (amounts not specified)
  • Mashed potatoes
    • Butter: “50% butter to mash”
    • Cream: used to mix into the mash
    • Potato ricer (preferred) or masher as an alternative
  • Parsley
    • For serving/garnish

Substitutions / options mentioned

  • Leeks
    • Can be added earlier, but they “disappear,” so they’re added after about half an hour.
  • Leaves
    • If a particular leaf wasn’t available (the “pivot leaf” vs “bay leaf” confusion), they used bay leaves and/or removed/found the intended leaf later (“fished it out”).

Equipment / prep

  • Casserole dish
  • Pan
    • For browning sausages and deglazing
  • Oven option
    • Alternative to stovetop simmer
  • Mash method tools
    • Potato ricer (preferred)
    • Or potato masher
  • Mixing bowl
    • For cornflour slurry (cornflour + water)

Method (key steps & timings)

  1. Assemble the base in the casserole dish

    • Add celery, carrots, onions to the casserole dish.
    • Leave it for about five minutes to develop color and some sauce.

  2. Brown and build flavor

    • Brown the mixture/components for around 5 minutes.
    • Add beer and deglaze the pan.
    • Cook off the alcohol briefly: “you have to cook it off a little bit.”
    • Stir/transfer the deglazed beer bits into the casserole.

  3. Add sausages and flavorings

    • Add sausages (flipping earlier is implied, then combine into the mixture).
    • Add brown sugar to balance sweet with savory/meaty.
    • Add stock.
    • Add Worcestershire sauce.
    • Add bay leaves (and/or the leaf substitute).

“Bring that melange… toss that in with your sausages… and your sofrito.”

  1. Cook until the gravy is developed

    • Option A: Simmer on the stove for ~30 minutes
    • Option B: Cook in the oven (with beer/alcohol cooking off as described)
    • Result: the gravy becomes more developed—“makes a lovely gravy.”

  2. Add leeks late

    • After half an hour, add leeks.
    • Then either:
      • Simmer a bit more, or
      • Bake in the oven for about 5 minutes so they cook but don’t break down too much.

  3. Thicken (if needed)

    • Make a cornflour + water slurry and use it to thicken the casserole/gravy.
    • (Timing details are not precise in the subtitles.)

Mashed potatoes (technique)

  1. Mash potatoes

    • Prefer a potato ricer for the smoothest texture.
    • Alternative: potato masher.

  2. Enrich with dairy

    • Mix in cream and butter.
    • Tip: posh mash is described as “50% butter to mash.”

  3. Texture cue

    • Mash should become creamy and mushy when mixed correctly (described as a technique cue, not a strict measurement).

Plating / serving suggestions

  • Serve sausage casserole with mashed potatoes.
  • Garnish with parsley.
  • The presentation is described as a hearty, ultimate comfort-plate of sausage and mash.

Tips / common mistakes mentioned

  • Don’t add leeks too early
    • They can “sort of disappear”—add after about 30 minutes.
  • Cook off the beer in the pan
    • When browning/flipping: “you have to cook it off a little bit.”
  • Leeks in the oven only briefly
    • About 5 minutes so they cook without breaking down too much.

Sources / referenced materials

  • Recipe content attributed to The Hairy Bikers and their book “British classics”
    • Specifically referenced: “beer and sausage casserole”
  • Segment appears on ITV’s This Morning:
    • “The Hairy Bikers’ Sausage Casserole | This Morning”

Original video