A tasty way to celebrate St David’s Day (From Bournemouth Echo)

A tasty way to celebrate St David’s Day

2:53pm Monday 1st March 2010 in

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MONDAY is Saint David’s Day, a celebration of the patron saint of Wales. To mark the occasion many Welsh people don a leek – a tradition that dates back to the wars between Wales and England when the Welsh would identify each other by wearing a leek.

If you’d prefer to eat leeks instead of wearing them, then try this delicious Welsh-themed recipe… Happy St David’s Day!

Sausage and Leek Casserole with Chive Mash - Serves 4

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 8 pork sausages

• 1 Spanish onion sliced

• 200g sliced leeks

• 4 cloves garlic sliced

• 2 sticks celery sliced

• Small bunch of sage leaves, picked

• 200ml white wine

• 400ml passata

• 400ml chicken stock

• 2 bay leaves

• Salt and cracked black pepper

• Small bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped

For the mash…

• 800g potatoes peeled and cut into 4

• 100g butter

• 300ml full fat milk

• Salt and cracked white pepper

• 1 bunch of chives finely chopped

Preheat oven to 180C / 350F.

Fry sausages in a flame-proof casserole until golden brown, remove with a slotted spoon. You may need to do this in two batches.

Add the onions, leeks, garlic, celery and sage to the pan and cook until the mix starts to brown slightly.

Add the wine, stock, passata and bay leaves, then season with salt and pepper. Return sausages to casserole, cover with lid and cook in the oven for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, place potatoes in a medium-sized pan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Simmer gently until cooked, about 20 minutes.

Once cooked, drain and mash the potatoes and add the butter and milk. Stir over a low heat until the butter has melted and the mash is piping hot. Season and add the chives. Set aside.

Remove the casserole from oven, stir in chopped parsley and serve with the mash.