Microwave sausage and bean stew with crusty bread
Perfect for a hungry family, this generous one-pot casserole is not only economical but also very filling. If you have never thought of cooking sausages in the microwave before, give it a go. They won’t brown but it’s quick and efficient with no messy frying pans to wash up.
This recipe is part of a Budget family microwave meal plan. In March 2023 it was costed at an average of £4.06 when checking prices at four UK supermarkets. It is designed to be made in conjunction with a low-cost store-cupboard.
Ingredients
- 8 sausages, separated
- 3 rashers smoked back bacon, trimmed and cut into 1.5cm/¾in slices
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 400g tin baked beans
- 400g tin red kidney beans or any other beans, drained and rinsed
- 50ml/2fl oz hot chicken or vegetable stock, made with 1 stock cube
- 1 tsp mixed dried herbs
- ¼ tsp chilli flakes
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- chopped fresh flatleaf parsley (optional)
- freshly ground black pepper
- ½ baguette or other crusty bread, to serve
Method
Prick each sausage twice with the tip of a sharp knife. Place the sausages on a large microwaveable plate, spaced apart and pointing inwards like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Cook uncovered on HIGH for 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W). Turn each sausage over and flip so the ends that were closest to the middle are now closest to the rim of the plate. Cook uncovered on HIGH for 1 minute 50 seconds (1000W) or 2 minutes (800W), or until the sausages are cooked. They won’t go brown but should be firm and hot throughout (see Tip below). Set aside.
Place the bacon, onion and garlic in a large, wide-based microwaveable bowl or casserole (large enough to hold at least 2 litres/3½ pints). Cover with a microwaveable lid or dinner plate and cook on HIGH for 4 minutes (1000W) or 5 minutes (800W). Stir in the tomatoes, baked beans, kidney beans, stock, dried herbs and chilli flakes. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 minutes (1000W) or 5 minutes (800W).
Slice the sausages in half and stir into the bean mixture. Add the Worcestershire sauce, if using. Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 minutes (1000W) or 7 minutes 30 seconds (800W), or until piping hot throughout. Stir halfway through the cooking time and remove the lid carefully as there will be lots of hot steam. Season with black pepper.
Cut the bread into four pieces, put on a microwaveable plate and microwave uncovered on HIGH for 20–30 seconds, or until warmed. Do not cook for too long or it will toughen. Serve the bread with the sausage stew. Garnish with parsley, if using.
Recipe Tips
Check the sausages are cooked by cutting one or two in half – there should be no pinkness remaining in the centre. You can also check with a digital food thermometer as it should reach 75C or more.
Use the best quality sausages your budget allows – herby ones will bring more colour to the stew but even less expensive sausages work well. If you like, brown the sausages quickly in a frying pan after cooking in the microwave and before adding the beans.
Use any beans in this recipe; cannellini and mixed beans both work well. If your family isn’t keen on too many beans, swap the kidney beans for frozen sweetcorn or leave out altogether and reduce the cooking time a little.
If you have any stew left over, it can be frozen for up to 3 months. Alternatively, slice the sausages and add a little extra water or stock for a hearty soup.
Worcestershire sauce adds extra flavour, so use some if you have any handy (it hasn’t been costed into the price given here.)