British Cuisine - Bangers and Mash

A typical and traditional meal in Britain is Bangers and Mash. The word 'banger' is colloquial for sausage, and 'mash' refers to mashed potatoes. It is important that the mash be made from real potatoes with butter and milk or cream and not be from a packet like Maggi! The dish is often served with onion gravy and some form of vegetable.

There are believed to be about 470 types of sausage in the United Kingdom, where this particular item is very popular. Simple forms of Bangers and Mash use simple varieties of sausage made from pork or beef. This is common fare in British pubs, but in restaurants or gastropubs serving traditional food with a twist (something special added or changed), you are likely to find more interesting types of sausage. These can include flavours like pork and apple or lamb and mint or venison sausage. Sometimes restaurants like to liven up the mashed potato by adding horseradish (rábano picante) or wholegrain mustard or sweet garlic among other ingredients.

The two most well know varieties of English sausage are Cumberland and Lincolnshire which originated in the counties of the same name. These sausages can be bought in long coils (spirals) or in the shape of ordinary sausages.

For me, this dish is a real comfort food, I love making it and I enjoy eating it even more. Thankfully, I can buy both Cumberland and Lincolnshire sausages in my supermarket here in Madrid so I often make Bangers and Mash for my Spanish husband and he loves them!