This post is kindly sponsored by Cauldron Foods.
It's officially Winter, and what's better on these cold evenings than a piping hot bowl of a warming sausage casserole? When we decided to give up meat winter comfort food wasn't high up on our priority list. Not until it started getting colder did we start thinking about cosy comfort food. Stews and casseroles have always been on the menu for us as soon as Autumn hit. So I had to think of new options when we decided to become vegetarian. And that's how this vegan sausage casserole came about.
This vegan sausage casserole is spicy, rich and very comforting, it's really easy to make and is a real winter warmer. A rich, slightly spicy tomato sauce with herbs, garlic and a little bit of wine is the base for this casserole. Add in some sweet peppers, creamy butter beans and some good vegan "sausages" and you have a great weeknight dinner. We like to have this with a generous serving of creamy mashed potatoes, however, creamy polenta or couscous works well too.
What's so good about this Vegan Sausage Casserole?
- It's vegan!
- Low in fat - thanks to the veggie sausages!
- It has heart-healthy beans, good for veggies
- Warming and comforting
- Under 500 calories ( not including sides )
- It's filling and satisfying
So you may know that this is our first Christmas as a vegetarian family, we have it all planned out and we are really excited about starting some new Christmas traditions, foodwise! However, being a new veggie family at Christmas means parties and family get-togethers can be a little bit trickier. I remember the first family dinner we were invited to shortly after we switched to a veggie diet. I told our host not to make a fuss, we'll have whatever, or I can bring our own food. The last thing I wanted to do was put pressure on our loved ones.
But to our surprise, everyone has been so supportive, most see it as a challenge to cook something different. Luckily for us, we come from a family of home cooks and real foodies. But what if you're not as lucky as us or what if you are cooking for your vegetarian or vegan loved ones this Christmas and have no clue where to start? Well, the good folk at Cauldron have just the thing for you. They have come up with The Ultimate Vegan and Vegetarian Christmas Guide.
Even if this isn't your first Christmas as a vegan or vegetarian I think you will find this guide really useful. I mean Christmas is stressful enough as it is without worrying about food and what to cook. This guide has everything you can think of for both a veggie and vegan Christmas. And as if that wasn't enough, those lovely Cauldron folk are also running a competition, giving you the chance of winning a £500 supermarket voucher of your choice or a brilliant Belazu ingredient hamper. You better be quick though the closing date is the 17th of December!
Vegan Sausage Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 large onion (280g) sliced
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Romano peppers (long sweet peppers) sliced widthways, pith and seeds removed
- ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 level tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 fat cloves of garlic minced
- 50 ml vegan red wine optional
- 2 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
- 80 ml water
- 1 400g tin of butter beans drained and rinsed in cold water
- A small bunch of fresh thyme
- 1 large dried bay leaf
- 6 vegan sausages I used Cauldron's vegan sausages
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper + more for serving
- A tablespoon flat leaf parsley
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saute pan or casserole dish. Add the onion plus ¼ teaspoon of sea salt and cook over a low heat for about 20 minutes stirring regularly until they are soft and golden.
- Turn up the heat to medium then add the chilli flakes, smoked paprika and rosemary and cook for a minute, then add the garlic, cook for another minute.Pour the wine, if using, into the pan and stir well until the wine has reduced fully then pour in the tins of tomatoes. Add some water to the empty tins, give them a little swirl then pour it into the pan as well.
- Now add the peppers, beans, thyme, bay leaf salt and pepper. Stir well then cover with a lid, turn down the heat a little and leave to simmer for about 10 minutes.
- While the sauce is simmering cook the sausages in a little olive oil, you can grill or fry them it's up to you I fry them.Once they are cooked remove from the pan and pat dry with some kitchen paper. Cut the sausages in half.
- Remove the lid from the pan then add the sausages to the tomato and bean sauce. Check the seasoning. Turn up the heat to medium then leave the sauce to reduce for about 10 minutes. Add the parsley just before you serve it.
- Serve immediately with mashed potatoes or creamy polenta.
Notes
- Calories are approximate and do not include mash potatoes or other sides.
- I used 6 sausages cut in half to make this if your sausages are small I would use 8.
- I don't recommend freezing this as the sausages have already been frozen.
- The sauce can be made up to a day ahead, you can also freeze the sauce without the sausages as you would freeze a soup.
- If you are serving this to children you may wish to omit the red wine.
- The spiciness of a meal is very much dependent on individual tastes if you like your food hot add more chilli flakes if you're not keen on heat al all just omit the chilli flakes.
Nutrition
More Vegan Winter Warmers:
- Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry
- Spicy Cauliflower Soup
- Mushroom Curry
- Mexican Vegetable Soup
- Mushroom Stir Fry with Broccoli
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see more delicious food.
Nicole
Gorgeous photos as usual and I am making these for sure!!!
Karyl Henry
My parents are vegetarian, and this looks right up their alley! I've never heard of Cauldron Foods, but will definitely tell my mom about it. This looks fabulous
Michelle Alston
Thank you so much, I hope your parents enjoy it Karyl Xx
Renee Gardner
This looks delicious! I'm not vegetarian, but am always looking for ways to incorporate more vegetables into my diet. This casserole looks like a great addition to my rotation.
Saima
What a perfect recipe for Christmas for those who are vegetarian! I'm not, but I would love to make this as an additional dish. Thanks for posting it.
Michelle Alston
Thank you Saima x
Jagruti Dhanecha
Delicious and comfort meal in a bowl, we too love using vegan sausages in our kitchen. Beautiful pictures.
Michelle Alston
Thank you Jaqruti 🙂
Chef Markus Mueller
Yummy! I'm not vegan but I am not at all against reducing how much meat we do eat. This looks super delicious and perfect for a cold winters day!!
Michelle Alston
Thanks so much Markus 🙂
Marisa Franca
Looks like you have some amazing flavors going on there. I'm not a vegan but that casserole would satisfy any day of the week. And it is wonderful that family and friends are so supportive. That's what life is all about isn't it? Merry Christmas!!
Michelle Alston
Thank you so much Marisa, yes we are very lucky to have very supportive folk around us x Merry Christmas to you too Xx
Katherine Chase
Vegan sausage - who knew! Hearty, delicious, and filling. Perfect for my house full of men and growing boys!
Anna Hettick
This doesn't look like it's wanting for flavor at all!!! I would try this easily!!
Anna
Such a beautiful dish Michelle! And I love the fact it is vegan! Just looking at these gorgeous photos makes me want to lick my screen!
Michelle Alston
Thank you so much Anna Xx
Shelley
Low in fat and calories, and totally loaded with nutritious veggies! And such perfectly hearty and satisfying comfort food, too! I just LOVE this idea! And thanks for the tip on the Cauldron Vegan/Vegetarian holiday guide - I've been writing a lot about the troubles of vegans and vegetarians at the holidays, so this is a really helpful and perfectly timed resource! Oh - and I'm just swooning over your gorgeous photos, too - absolutely stunning! You have such great posts and info - thanks!
Michelle Alston
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Shelley x It's our first vegetarian Christmas and although we will manage it fine I think it can definitely be tricky for some so I thought this guide was so helpful. Xx
Jacque Hastert
I have never heard of vegan sausage before. Now I am going to have to try it, because this recipe sounds fantastic!
Anna
I really enjoy cooking this meal, very hearty. I personally like it with more chilli and paprika
pam
Isn't it funny how supportive loved ones can be when you give them a chance? This looks divine and your photos are just stunning!
Alina | Cooking Journey Blog
Stunning comfort dish! And I can't believe it's vegan, looks so flavorful.
Deanna
This casserole looks sooo yummy!!! I would make this as a weekend meal so I could really enjoy the flavors 🙂
Jacqueline Debono
I'm not vegetarian but that vegan sausage casserole looks delicious. Perfect for meatless Mondays in winter! I love the idea of serving it with polenta!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
Now that looks so comforting on a cold day! I love the idea of a vegan stew and it looks really tasty and filling.
Nicole Triebe
This looks like a warm hug in a bowl! The ultimate comfort food!