Bangers and Colcannon with Brown Sugar Guinness Gravy

March 13th, 2014

Guiness Sausage and Colcannon 1

 

If you want to try something a little different for St. Patricks Day, I highly recommend this riff on the traditional corned beef and cabbage.  The colcannon is a mixture of cabbage, mashed potatoes and bacon.  If you are lucky you can find authentic bangers which are British pork sausages.  They got their name because they are said to make a bang sound when they split while cooking.  But the star of this dish is the brown sugar and Guinness Stout gravy.

Guiness Sausage and Colcannon 2V

The sausages are cooked in the beer and then the beer and brown sugar are thickened with a butter and flour mixture.  The taste is excellent with both the sausages and the potato, cabbage mash.  Unfortunately, I did not put much of the gravy on my plate when I photographed it.  I corrected that mistake when I dug into it.

Guiness Sausage and Colannon 3

As far as I know the original recipe came from Tara at Smells Like Home.  You can visit her site to see a better picture of the dish with the gravy.  If you can’t find bangers, any mild sausage will do.  I used an Italian turkey sausage.  The dish is garnished with scallion tops.  It is well worth a celebration.

BANGERS AND COLCANNON WITH BROWN SUGAR GUINNESS GRAVY

For the bangers and gravy:
6 Irish bangers (or mild sausage)
12 oz Guinness beer
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter mashed with 1 1/2 tbsp flour
Pinch of Kosher salt
1-2 tbsp chicken stock, as needed

1. In a 12″ sauté pan, brown bangers on all sides over medium heat. Add beer to pan, reduce to a simmer. Braise bangers until they are fully cooked and the beer reduces by half, about 10 minutes.
2. Remove bangers from the pan and whisk in brown sugar, butter/flour mixture, and salt until the mixture is smooth.  Bring gravy to a gentle boil and reduce to a simmer until thickened.  If the gravy thickens too much, add 1-2 tbsp of chicken stock as needed.

For the Colcannon:
1 1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed(I used Yukon Gold, but russets would do too)
2 3/4 tsp Kosher salt, divided
4 oz bacon, diced
3 cups cabbage, thinly sliced
3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, divided
1/4 cup heavy cream

1. Place potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water.  Add 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Boil until potatoes are fork tender, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and keep warm in the saucepan you boiled them in.
2. While the bangers brown and potatoes boil, cook bacon in a 12″ skillet over medium heat until almost crisp, rendering as much bacon fat in the pan as you can.  Add 2 tbsp butter, allow to melt, and then add the cabbage. Sauté mixture until cabbage is almost tender but a slight amount of crunch remains, about 10-15 minutes while stirring occasionally.
3. Add heavy cream and 1 tbsp butter to the pot

Printable recipe

12 responses to “Bangers and Colcannon with Brown Sugar Guinness Gravy”

  1. Penny @ The Comforts of Home says:

    Great picture Penny! This sounds really good!
    Hugs,
    Penny

  2. I’ve made brats in beer, but never thought of using Guinness. Will definitely try this next time I make sausage. Adding brown sugar? Genius!

  3. KathyWalker says:

    This sounds great, Penny! I love colcannon and I think pairing it with bangers and a tasty gravy would be fun…I love using Guinness in cooking, it adds such a nice layer of flavor!!

  4. Larry says:

    I like the gravy idea and anything made with Guinness must be good – I laid in a few the other day for the big day.

  5. Sam Hoffer says:

    I too like the gravy idea. Happy St. Patty’s Day Penny. I think you’ve picked the perfect meal.
    Sam

  6. Darla says:

    Can’t wait to try this. Looks amazing. We are in EI for the weekend. Taking the grandkids to the St. Patrick’s day festival tomorrow. Ate at the Chef and the Farmer last evening. Food was wonderful, as always!

  7. Susan says:

    Finally able to comment! I tried visiting using Firefox several times which had really messed up your page – no comment box. Tried using Google Chrome today and it worked! Love your ‘bangers’ and mash. I cook bratwurst in beer so know I would love these with the potato and cabbage mash. The gravy sounds delicious too.

  8. Karen (Back Road Journal) says:

    I’ll have to try this version the next time I make this dish. Your can’t beat bangers and colcannon for a satisfying meal.

  9. Chris says:

    This is one I’d love, for sure. I didn’t do anything for St Patrick’s Day this year but I think I might do a pastrami next weekend. Love the plated shot with that late afternoon sunshine! (Or I guess it could be morning and y’all are early drinkers, ha ha.)

  10. Barbara Williams says:

    I could chow down on colcannon every day! My, that plate looks sooooo good, Penny. The gravy sounds interesting too…never have made anything like it. That bit of sweet would be marvelous on bangers.
    Happy St. Paddy’s Day, Penny!

  11. bellini says:

    I just love colcannon Penny. I don’t know why I never think of it until St. Paddys Day. I have even read that it is also traditional to use kale so I must give that a go sometime.

  12. […] Braise the stew for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.  It can be served at this point, but it is better to let cool and then place in the refrigerator over night.  Remove the solid fats that have accumulated on the top.  Put the stew back into a preheated 325 degree oven and cook until heated through.  Serve with mashed potatoes or Colcannon. […]

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