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The Hairy Biker’s cumberland sausage pie

Name: The Hairy Biker’s cumberland sausage pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: British recipes
Ingredients: 8 cumberland sausages (about 500g); 3 tbsp olive oil; 15g butter; 1 large onion, diced; 2 large carrots, diced; 2 celery sticks, diced; 1 tbsp plain flour; 2 tbsp tomato purée; 100ml red wine; 400ml beef stock; 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce; 2 bay leaves; 1 large thyme sprig; 1–2 tbsp cumberland sauce 1 tsp orange zest (optional) sea salt and black pepper; For the topping; 1kg floury potatoes, cut into chunks; 30g butter; Bunch spring onions, chopped; 1 tbsp dijon mustard (optional); 50ml single cream; 100g cheddar cheese, grated

By: The Hairy Bikers

Published: 28 Mar 23
Updated: 25 Mar 24

The Hairy Biker’s cumberland sausage pie

Cumberland pie is very similar to shepherd’s pie, so The Hairy Bikers thought to themselves: why not make a pie with Cumberland sausages for the full Cumberland experience? The sausages are broken up into little balls so everyone gets a bite of banger satisfaction. Add the cheesy potato topping makes for a hearty pie to be proud of.

Recipe from The Hairy Bikers’ Everyday Winners by Si King and Dave Myers (Seven Dials Publishing; £22).

For more fantastic sausage dinners, check out our best sausage casserole recipes.

Easy
January 2022

Test kitchen approved

Serves 4
Hands on time 20 minutes, oven time 1½ hours

Recipe from The Hairy Bikers’ Everyday Winners by Si King and Dave Myers (Seven Dials Publishing; £22).

For more fantastic sausage dinners, check out our best sausage casserole recipes.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 565kcals
Fat: 38.9g (12.2g saturated)
Protein: 22.5g
Carbohydrates: 23.5g (11.7g sugars)
Fibre: 5.9g
Salt: 2.2g

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Ingredients

8 cumberland sausages (about 500g)
3 tbsp olive oil
15g butter
1 large onion, diced
2 large carrots, diced
2 celery sticks, diced
1 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp tomato purée
100ml red wine
400ml beef stock
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1 large thyme sprig
1–2 tbsp cumberland sauce 1 tsp orange zest (optional) sea salt and black pepper

For the topping

1kg floury potatoes, cut into chunks
30g butter
Bunch spring onions, chopped
1 tbsp dijon mustard (optional)
50ml single cream
100g cheddar cheese, grated

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Method

Skin the sausages. Divide each sausage into 4 and roll each piece into balls. Heat a tablespoon of the olive oil and lightly fry the sausage balls until browned on all sides, then set them aside.
Heat the remaining oil and the butter in a large saucepan or a flameproof casserole dish. add the vegetables and fry them for a few minutes, until well coated with the oil and butter. Cover and leave to cook, stirring regularly, until tender – this will take at least 10 minutes.
Stir in the flour, then when it has disappeared into the oil, stir in the tomato purée. Turn up the heat and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly, then pour in the red wine. Bring to the boil and continue to stir, then add the stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs.

Stir in the cumberland sauce and the orange zest, if using, then add the sausage balls. Season with plenty of salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer. Cook the sauce for 20 minutes, stirring every so often to make sure it doesn’t catch on the bottom, until it has reduced down a bit and thickened.
Meanwhile, make the topping. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. add the potatoes, season with plenty of salt and cook for 10–15 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Heat the oven to 180°C fan/gas 6. Drain the potatoes and mash until smooth.
Melt the 30g butter in a saucepan and add the spring onions. fry until they start to soften, then add the potatoes to the pan with the mustard, if using, and the cream. Beat together until well combined.
Put the filling into a pie dish or casserole dish. Spread the mashed potato over
the top, then rough it up with a fork. Sprinkle with cheese. bake in the oven for about 30 minutes until well browned and piping hot.