I’m part Irish on my father’s side, and I like to try making classic Irish recipes like this as a way of celebrating my heritage. Bangers and Mash is one of my very favorite dishes that I can’t help but order when I see it on a menu. It’s classic pub fare in both England and Ireland, but you will also find it in Australia and New Zealand, and it is one of the most popular menu items at the Leaky Cauldron restaurant in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They are actually fairly quick and easy, and so incredibly delicious! If you love Irish recipes like this one, be sure to serve Sticky Toffee Pudding or Irish Apple Cake for dessert. Or try our Irish Soda Bread next! To make this an authentic bangers and mash recipe, you are going to need banger sausages, which are a specific style of sausage that can be difficult to find in the U.S. except around St. Patrick’s Day. I like to stock up and freeze extras so I can make this recipe and Dublin Coddle (another favorite Irish recipe) more than just in March. Bangers are typically a pork sausage with a unique flavor that you can’t quite match with other types of sausage, although this recipe will work with brats or other savory sausages if bangers aren’t available. We’ve made this with bratwurst and chicken sausages before and those are tasty too. If you are trying to replicate the banger flavor, bangers are closest to country pork sausages in flavor, and they are so juicy and flavorful when fried in a pan like this and topped with a generous spoonful of homemade onion gravy!
How to Make Bangers and Mash
TO PREPARE THE MASH
TO PREPARE THE BANGERS
I found Irish bangers, which are actually already cooked and just needed to be heated through. Note that raw sausages like brats or sweet Italian sausages will take the longer to cook.
TO PREPARE THE ONION GRAVY
The cooked sausages are served with mashed potatoes and topped with a generous spoonful of the onion gravy. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and then serve with a side of green peas.
What’s a Good Sausage for Bangers and Mash?
You can really use any sausage of choice. Normally bangers and mash are made using thick pork sausages, but you can use anything from bratwurst or mild Italian sausages to a sausage made of beef, pork, lamb or whatever else you think would taste great.
Why Do They Call it Bangers and Mash?
Bangers and mash got their name around the time of World War I, when there was a meat shortage and sausages were being made with lots of fillers to help get them to stretch what they had. These cheaply made sausages would often burst while being cooked, making a loud “bang” sound, hence the name bangers, which has now become a British slang term for sausages and “mash” is for mashed potatoes. Ever since it’s creation, this dish has been very popular in British and Irish cultures.
More Irish Recipes You’ll Love
Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce Blarney Stones (Peanut Butter Squares) Shepherds Pie Irish Soda Bread Irish Colcannon (Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage) Corned Beef and Cabbage
Dublin Coddle (One-Pot Irish Potato, Sausage & Onion Stew)
Creamy Irish Leek and Potato Soup
Sticky Toffee Pudding
