A big bowl of mashed potatoes, topped with sausages and gravy goes right at the top of our ‘comfort foods’ list.
We have this meal at home a lot, but had never considered making it on a bicycle tour, until Liz from the BikeAbout website shared her camping version of this tasty meal.
It’s a little more complicated than making a pot full of pasta but we think the extra effort is worth it. To make this recipe, you’ll need 2 pots, or 1 pot and a frying pan. It will go faster if you also have two stoves (although you can make it on one stove with a little pot juggling), so this is the perfect recipe to scale up and make for a group. The ingredients given here make enough for 2 hungry cyclists.
Ingredients:
4 sausages (the best quality you can find)
4-8 potatoes (depends on the size of the potatoes)
1 leek, sliced and well washed
1 red pepper, sliced
8-10 button mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, sliced
1 stock cube
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 stem rosemary (optional)
1 slosh red wine (optional)
1 spoonful butter (optional)
salt & pepper, to taste
*The optional ingredients add a lot of flavour, but aren’t strictly necessary. Also, you can vary the vegetables here (leek, red pepper, mushrooms) according to what you have on hand. Liz suggests adding an apple for sweetness.
Directions:
1. Peel and chop the potatoes into small pieces. Wash them, and then put them in a pot with water. Put on the stove and cook until the potatoes are tender.
2. Meanwhile, chop the leek, red pepper, mushrooms and onion.
3. When the potatoes are cooked, take the pot off the stove but don’t drain it. The water will keep the potatoes warm, until the rest of the meal is ready.
4. Put the chopped vegetables in your second pot or frying pan, along with any herbs you are using. Saute in a bit of oil until they are cooked. Set aside in a bowl.
5. Put the sausages in the same pot and brown them on all sides. You may need to turn the stove down, or hold it above the heat if you have a stove that doesn’t simmer well.
6. Return the vegetables to the pot with about 1/2 cup of water. Add the stock cube, and any additional seasonings you have, such as rosemary, a bay leaf or red wine. Cook until the sausages are done. Take off the stove and set aside.
7. Drain the potatoes and mash them with a fork. Add butter, salt and pepper if you have it.
8. Put the potatoes in a bowl. Pile the sausages, vegetables and cooking juices on top. Enjoy!
“This takes a little time and uses more fuel than some dishes but it is really filling and tasty after a long bike ride,” says Liz. We’d have to agree. Delicious!
P.S. Don’t forget to check out Liz & Chris’ great website, all about their long bike tour from New Zealand to England.