Description
This festive Christmas pork in blankets casserole combines roasted root vegetables and crispy pigs in blankets in a rich sausage casserole sauce. Perfectly seasoned with Colman’s Sausage Casserole Mix and enhanced with a splash of vinegar and fresh herbs, this comforting dish is ideal for holiday gatherings. Serve it alongside creamy mashed potatoes or leftover roasties for a hearty, crowd-pleasing winter meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 medium carrots (about 100g), cut into thick slices
- 2 small parsnips (about 80g), peeled, woody cores removed and cut into chunks
- 1 red onion, cut into wedges
Meat
- 16 chipolata-sized pigs in blankets or 8 larger ones
Sauce and Seasoning
- 39g sachet Colman’s Sausage Casserole Mix
- 2 tsp wine or cider vinegar
- 2–3 tbsp cream or crème fraîche (optional)
- 2 tbsp chopped soft herbs, such as basil or parsley
For Serving
- Mashed potato or leftover roasties
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Vegetables: Heat your oven to 220°C (200°C fan)/gas mark 7. Place sliced carrots, chunks of parsnip, and red onion wedges into a deep baking dish or casserole. Drizzle with 2 tsp olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
- Roast Vegetables: Roast the vegetables for 20 minutes at the preheated temperature to begin softening and browning them slightly.
- Add Pigs in Blankets: After 20 minutes, add the pigs in blankets to the dish. Continue roasting for 10–15 minutes until the bacon on the pigs in blankets starts to crisp.
- Prepare Sausage Casserole Sauce: Reduce the oven temperature to 200°C (180°C fan)/gas mark 6. In a jug, mix the 39g sachet of Colman’s Sausage Casserole Mix with 300ml of water until smooth. Pour the sauce mixture into the baking dish with the roasted vegetables and pigs in blankets. Add 2 tsp of wine or cider vinegar for a touch of acidity.
- Simmer in Oven: Return the casserole to the oven. Cook for an additional 40 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and flavors to meld. Check for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
- Finish and Serve: If using, swirl 2–3 tbsp cream or crème fraîche into the casserole to add richness. Scatter 2 tbsp chopped soft herbs such as basil or parsley over the top for freshness. Serve hot with creamy mashed potatoes or reheated leftover roasties.
Notes
- If you have leftover cooked pigs in blankets, add them together with the Colman’s Sausage Casserole Mix in step 4 instead of earlier.
- To refresh leftover roast potatoes, place them on a baking tray, lightly crush with the back of a fork to split them, and heat in the oven alongside the casserole for 40 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: Christmas casserole, pigs in blankets casserole, festive pork recipe, sausage casserole, roasted root vegetables, holiday dinner, autumn casserole
