Name: Double sausage & bean casserole with cheese-on-toast crumbs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 3 tbsp olive oil; 8 pork sausages; 2 small cooking chorizo (about 100g), sliced; 1 large onion finely chopped; 2 bay leaves; 1 tbsp tomato purée; ½ tsp light brown muscovado sugar; 1 tbsp red wine vinegar; 400g can chopped tomatoes; 2 x 400g cans cannellini beans or any other white beans, drained but not rinsed; 50g crustless white bread torn into chunks; 15g parmesan finely grated; 2 tbsp thyme leaves

Double sausage & bean casserole with cheese-on-toast crumbs in a large baking dish

3 tbsp olive oil
8 pork sausages
2 small cooking chorizo
(about 100g), sliced
1 large onion
finely chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp tomato purée
½ tsp light brown muscovado sugar
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
400g can chopped tomatoes
2 x 400g cans cannellini beans
or any other white beans, drained but not rinsed

For the cheese-on-toast crumbs

50g crustless white bread
torn into chunks
15g parmesan
finely grated
2 tbsp thyme leaves

Method

step 1
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a shallow flameproof casserole over a medium heat and fry the pork sausages for 10 mins until browned on all sides. Transfer to a plate. Drizzle another 1 tbsp oil into the casserole, scatter in the chorizo and cook for 3-4 mins until beginning to crisp and release its oil. Add the onion and bay, and cook for 5 mins more until the onion is soft.
step 2
Stir in the tomato purée and scatter over the sugar. Turn up the heat to medium-high and cook for another 2 mins until sticky and jammy, then splash in the vinegar. Simmer for 1 min more, then tip in the tomatoes and beans. Stir, then bring to a simmer. Nestle the sausages in the sauce and pour over any of the resting juices. Bake uncovered for 30 mins.
step 3
Meanwhile, make the crumbs. Tip the bread and parmesan into a food processor and pulse with half the thyme to a chunky texture. Scatter the crumbs over a baking sheet and drizzle with the remaining oil. Bake alongside the casserole for 10 mins, stirring the crumbs once or twice until crisp and golden. Scatter the crumbs over the casserole with the rest of the thyme just before serving, or serve on the side for everyone to help themselves.