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Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy is a comforting British dish of pork sausages served with creamy mashed potatoes and topped with a beefy, onion gravy.  Enjoy British pub comfort food at it’s best right in your own  home. You will find this classic dish on just about every British and Irish pub menu all over the world. Along with fish & chips and shepherd’s pie, I think bangers and mash are one of the most common British food recognized by everyone.

Pouring onion gravy over banger and mash

When I ask people what they know about British food, they usually name fish & chips and then bangers and mash.

Why do they call them bangers?

The name dates back to the Second World War when sausages were made and there was a shortage of meat, the sausages were filled with very little meat and more fillers like cereal and water, lesser expensive ingredients.

Sausage bangers in a pan with onion gravy

This resulted in a lot of spitting and noise when they were cooked because of the water content and the skin would rupture and make a bang, so they nicknamed them ‘bangers’.

I think most meat eaters love sausages and when they piled on top of mash and swimming in gravy and bangers and mash with onion and beef gravy is my favorite comfort food. I always have to have them with a side of fresh, sweet garden peas.

Bangers and mash with onion gravy and peas on a grey plate

You can always find a couple of packs of sausages and peas in my freezer, beef stock and onions in the pantry. Keeping these items on hand is a great way to get an easy dinner on the table in 20 minutes, any time, any day. Two of my local supermarkets carry British bangers so I have no problem finding them, but if you can’t find them you can substitute any sausages that you like.

This bangers and mash with onion gravy comes together so quickly because everything cooks at the same time. While the potatoes are coming up to a boil, the sausages cook and while they cook the gravy is started by softening onions.

4 British bangers in a cast iron skillet cooking in onion gravy

Once the onions are softened, beef stock is added along with mustard and Worcestershire sauce, these 2 ingredients make the gravy rich and full of flavor. We had this dish last night I’m so glad I have leftovers for tonight because I’m craving them as I type this.

More British comfort foods:

This bangers and mash recipe first appeared on Food Fanatic, where I am a contributor.

Yield: 2

Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy

2 British bangers on a bed of mash with peas

Pork sausages in a flavorful, sweet onions beef beef gravy then plated on top of creamy mashed potatoes.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1-pound (454 grams) potatoes of your choice, peeled and cut into large chunks
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • For the bangers:
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus 1 teaspoon
  • 4 British pork bangers/sausages
  • For the onion gravy:
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces (113 grams) yellow onion, sliced
  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (473 ml) beef stock/broth (low sodium if possible)
  • 1/4 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard * see note
  • 2 teaspoons tomato ketchup
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and black pepper to taste (this will depend on how salty your stock/broth is)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup (ml) whole milk, warmed
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. For the mash:
  2. Fill a large pan with 8 cups (2 liters) of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling add salt and potatoes, simmer for 15 minutes until they feel tender when pierced with a fork.
  3. For the bangers:
  4. While the potatoes cook, add the vegetable oil to a heavy skillet over medium heat. Brown the sausages on all sides, remove and set aside.
  5. For the onion gravy:
  6. To the same pan you cooked the sausages add the 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. When the butter is melted and bubbling add the onions and cook, stirring often until softened and lightly browned.
  7. Add the flour into the butter and onions and whisk well to combine.. Slowly whisk in the stock until well incorporated with the flour. Whisk in the mustard, tomato ketchup and Worcestershire sauce until well mixed. Bring to a low simmer until thickened. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste.
  8. Turn the heat down to low on the gravy and add in the sausages to heat through. Meanwhile, drain the cooked potatoes into a large bowl and mash. Stir in the melted butter, warm milk and salt. Taste add more salt if needed.
  9. Place mashed potato onto a plate and top with the bangers and onion gravy, serve with peas.

Notes

English mustard is spicier than regular yellow mustard. If you can't find it, you can use regular yellow mustard.

Taste your stock, if it is salty, you may need to adjust the amount of salt in the dish

Nutrition Information

Yield

2

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 1005Saturated Fat 28gCholesterol 186mgSodium 3459mgCarbohydrates 44gProtein 42g
© Janette
Cuisine: British / Category: British Recipes
Yield: 2

Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy

2 British bangers on a bed of mash with peas

Pork sausages in a flavorful, sweet onions beef beef gravy then plated on top of creamy mashed potatoes.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1-pound (454 grams) potatoes of your choice, peeled and cut into large chunks
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • For the bangers:
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus 1 teaspoon
  • 4 British pork bangers/sausages
  • For the onion gravy:
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces (113 grams) yellow onion, sliced
  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (473 ml) beef stock/broth (low sodium if possible)
  • 1/4 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard * see note
  • 2 teaspoons tomato ketchup
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and black pepper to taste (this will depend on how salty your stock/broth is)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup (ml) whole milk, warmed
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. For the mash:
  2. Fill a large pan with 8 cups (2 liters) of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling add salt and potatoes, simmer for 15 minutes until they feel tender when pierced with a fork.
  3. For the bangers:
  4. While the potatoes cook, add the vegetable oil to a heavy skillet over medium heat. Brown the sausages on all sides, remove and set aside.
  5. For the onion gravy:
  6. To the same pan you cooked the sausages add the 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. When the butter is melted and bubbling add the onions and cook, stirring often until softened and lightly browned.
  7. Add the flour into the butter and onions and whisk well to combine.. Slowly whisk in the stock until well incorporated with the flour. Whisk in the mustard, tomato ketchup and Worcestershire sauce until well mixed. Bring to a low simmer until thickened. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste.
  8. Turn the heat down to low on the gravy and add in the sausages to heat through. Meanwhile, drain the cooked potatoes into a large bowl and mash. Stir in the melted butter, warm milk and salt. Taste add more salt if needed.
  9. Place mashed potato onto a plate and top with the bangers and onion gravy, serve with peas.

Notes

English mustard is spicier than regular yellow mustard. If you can't find it, you can use regular yellow mustard.

Taste your stock, if it is salty, you may need to adjust the amount of salt in the dish

Nutrition Information

Yield

2

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 1005Saturated Fat 28gCholesterol 186mgSodium 3459mgCarbohydrates 44gProtein 42g
© Janette
Cuisine: British / Category: British Recipes