Bangers and Mash With Onion Gravy Is an All-Time British Favorite (2024)

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An All-Time British Favorite

Elaine Lemm

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 03/6/24

Tested by

Colleen Graham

Tested byColleen Graham

Freelance writer and co*cktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.

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Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Total: 65 mins

Why Is a Sausage Called a Banger?

The British and Irish term "banger" is believed to have originated during World War I, when meat shortages led to fillers being added to sausages, making them explode while cooking. Even high-quality sausages can explode in the pan if cooked too quickly, causing a "bang."

The Best Sausage for Bangers and Mash

Where once it was only possible to buy beef or pork sausages, there are now manydifferent flavors available, from spicy to fruity.

Thick, unaged pork sausages are traditionally used for bangers and mash. A mildly spiced sausage is more common, but feel free to use your favorite sausages when making the dish at home.

Cooking for a Crowd with Traditional British Food

Tips for Excellent Bangers and Mash

When making your mashed potatoes, be sure that you cut your potatoes into even-sized pieces so that they all cook at the same rate.
Patience is key when caramelizing the onions. Taking it slow will coax the most flavor out of the onions for the gravy.
To warm ceramic plates for serving, stack them in an oven for 15 minutes at the lowest possible temperature (around 150 F). Make sure you use oven mitts when removing the plates from the oven so you don't burn yourself. Warn your guests that the plates are hot.

What to Serve With Bangers and Mash

While bangers and mash makes a filling meal all on its own, you can serve it with green peas, carrots, or a fresh salad for added color and nutrition.

Bangers and Mash With Onion Gravy Is an All-Time British Favorite (4)

What You'll Need to Make This Bangers and Mash Recipe

A Nice Sturdy Skillet

A Handy Dandy Potato Masher

A Great Saucepan

"For a meat and potatoes dinner, this is an excellent recipe. The best part of this bangers and mash recipe is the potatoes; it is one of the quickest ways to make mashed potatoes that I’ve found, and the results are spectacular. I’ll be using this method from now on, even without the bangers." —Colleen Graham

Bangers and Mash With Onion Gravy Is an All-Time British Favorite (8)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Onion Gravy:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/2 cups beef stock
4 teaspoons cornstarch, or corn flour
See Also
UPAN® - Cast Iron Sausage Pan
4 teaspoons cold water
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the Mash:

2 pounds potatoes, peeled and quartered
6 tablespoons milk
8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cubed
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the Bangers (Sausage):

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 thick sausages (pork, beef, or flavored)

Steps to Make It

Gather ingredients.
First, start by making the gravy. Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan over gentle heat. Add the onions and cover with a lid. Cook slowly for approximately 10 minutes or until the onions are soft.
Add the balsamic vinegar and sugar to the onions and stir well. Cover with the lid and continue to cook for a further 5 minutes.
Add the stock and boil gently, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
In a small heatproof jug or bowl, mix the cornstarch with the cold water to form a thin paste.
Pour a little of the hot stock into the starch mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour the starch mixture back into the gravy. Raise the heat to high and boil for 10 minutes or until the gravy is slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Meanwhile, start the mashed potatoes. Put all of the potatoes in a pot with cold water, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cook until fork-tender. The fork should be able to easily pierce the potato without effort.
Drain and keep warm until ready to mash.
While the potatoes are cooking, cook the sausages. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausages. Fry until the sausages are golden brown and firm, turning them from time to time, about 20 minutes.
Once cooked, place in an ovenproof dish and keep warm until the mash and gravy are ready.
Finish the mash by adding the milk and butter to the pan used to boil the potatoes. Place over low heat and warm gently until the butter has melted.
Add the potatoes and mash using either a potato masher, fork, or a potato ricer.
Whip the mashed potato lightly with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
To plate, spoon the mash onto 4 warmed dinner plates. Place 2 fat sausages on top of the mash and pour the onion gravy over the dish. Enjoy!

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
777	Calories
53g	Fat
60g	Carbs
19g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	777
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 53g	68%
Saturated Fat 22g	108%
Cholesterol 110mg	37%
Sodium 935mg	41%
Total Carbohydrate 60g	22%
Dietary Fiber 6g	20%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 24mg	121%
Calcium 97mg	7%
Iron 4mg	20%
Potassium 1771mg	38%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

Potato
dinner
british
boxing day

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Bangers and Mash With Onion Gravy Is an All-Time British Favorite (2024)

FAQs

Is bangers and mash a British thing? ›

bangers and mash, a common British dish consisting of sausages (“bangers”) and mashed potatoes (“mash”). It is traditionally served with onion gravy. Bangers and mash is a staple of the country's overall cuisine and is a popular pub dish.

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What do Americans call bangers and mash? ›

Bangers and mash, also known as sausages and mash, is a traditional British dish consisting of sausages and mashed potato. It may consist of one of a variety of flavoured sausages made of pork, lamb, beef, or a meat alternative. The dish is usually served with onion gravy, but may also include fried onions and peas.

Get More Info ›

Is bangers and mash British or Australian? ›

Bangers and Mash, a classic British dish comprising sausages (bangers) and mashed potatoes (Mash). Its history can be traced back to the early 20th century in England. The term "bangers" is said to come from the practice of adding water to sausages during World War II, which caused them to pop or "bang" while cooking.

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What does bangers and mash mean in slang? ›

Bangers and mash is co*ckney rhyming slang for. money. It's THAT valuable.

Learn More Now ›

What is an American substitute for British bangers? ›

Bangers are a British pork sausage. If they are unavailable, any mild pork sausage can be used in their place.

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What are bangers called in the US? ›

Irish Sausage is also commonly known as “English Sausage”, “British Sausage, and as “Bangers” outside of the UK; the terms are used interchangeably. The traditional recipe consists of ground pork, a rusk bread filler, eggs, seasonings and a natural pork or beef casing.

Know More ›

Can you still buy bangers? ›

Bangers and airbombs FAQ

You can't, they're illegal and have been for some years. Any you see for sale on the internet or from unlicensed "white van" sellers are also illegal.

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What do British bangers taste like? ›

Bangers, on the other hand, are more savory, containing a greater quantity of herbs like thyme, sage and marjoram, which is one reason why they go so well with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Does Trader Joe's have bangers? ›

Irish Bangers & Champ | Trader Joe's.

Do Irish people eat bangers and mash? ›

Bangers and mash is a quintessential British dish of sausage and mashed potatoes, typically served with onion gravy. It's roots extend to Ireland where you'll find the dish in many local pubs. I found “Irish Style Banger Sausages” at my whole foods and knew I had to try them out.

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What do British people put gravy on? ›

Brits have also confessed to pouring it over pancakes, cereal, potatoes, hash browns and rice. The research found that the top dishes to enjoy gravy are Roast Beef, Chicken and turkey! These are followed by Yorkshire pudding, sausage, and mash.

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What is the British bubble and squeak? ›

Bubble and squeak is a British dish made from cooked potatoes and cabbage, mixed together and fried. The food writer Howard Hillman classes it as one of the "great peasant dishes of the world".

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What is bangers and mash in America? ›

Sausage with Onion Gravy and Mashed Potato – affectionately known as “Bangers and Mash” – is one of the greatest of all comfort foods. A sausage recipe for a quick easy dinner with a side of peas or steamed vegetables to douse in the homemade gravy.