Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy
Good sausages, buttery mash and a proper onion gravy built from slow-caramelised onions and stock rather than a packet. Pub food at its most straightforward and satisfying.
Method
Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.
-
Start the gravy first. Melt the butter with the oil in a wide pan, add the onions and sugar with a pinch of salt, and cook over medium-low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until deep golden and jammy.
-
Stir in the flour and cook 2 minutes, then add the wine and reduce by half.
-
Add the stock, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, thyme and salt. Simmer for 15 minutes until it coats a spoon. Keep warm.
-
Meanwhile cook the sausages in a cold pan with the oil over medium-low heat for 15 to 18 minutes, turning regularly, until browned all over and cooked through.
-
Boil the potatoes in well-salted water for 18 to 20 minutes until a knife meets no resistance.
-
Drain and leave in the colander to steam-dry for 5 minutes — this is what stops the mash being watery.
-
Pass the potatoes through a ricer back into the pan, then beat in the butter a little at a time, followed by the warm milk, salt and white pepper.
-
Pile the mash onto warm plates, lay the sausages against it and pour the onion gravy generously over both.
Chef’s Tips
- Buy the best sausages you can; with three ingredients on the plate there is nowhere to hide.
- A ricer, not a masher. It is the single biggest upgrade to any mashed potato.
- Warm the milk before adding it. Cold milk makes the mash claggy and dulls the butter.
Pairing Suggestions
- A pint of bitter or a glass of Merlot
- Serve with buttered peas or greens
- Finish with sticky toffee pudding
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate 3 days. Reheat the mash with a splash of milk; the gravy keeps 5 days and freezes 3 months.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.