Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Butternut, Butter Bean, But A Lot More Besides*

 

A warming autumnal casserole, to bung in the slocooker and forget about till teatime...

Quantities for 2, but easy to double up
INGREDIENTS

  • 4 tbsp oil
  • small onion, peeled chopped
  • clove of garlic, peeled, finely chopped
  • sprig of rosemary, finely chopped
  • 250ml stock
  • 4 pork sausages, each cut in half
  • 300gm butternut squash, peeled, cut in 3cm chunks
  • can of butter beans
  • 150g chard - well washed*
  • salt&pepper
  • 2 heaped tbsp breadcrumbs
  • grated parmesan/vegan parmesan [optional]
METHOD
  • Heat 2tbsp oil in a frying, stir in the onion, cook gently 10 mins, and rosemary and garlic cook for 2 minutes.
  • Transfer to slocooker. 
  • Put 1tbsp oil in pan, and turn up the heat - brown off the sauages for 5 mins
  • Transfer to slocooker.
  • Pour half the stock into frying pan to deglaze then tip that, plus remaining stock into slocooker
  • Rinse the butter beans under the tap, and add to slocooker, along with the squash cubes.
  • Cut out the chard stalks, slice into 2cm lengths, cut leaves into bite size pieces, add to cooker.
  • Put slocooker on high, and leave for at least 3½ hours. Season to taste with s&p
  • Just before serving, toast the breadcrumbs in 1tbsp oil till crisp and golden, season with salt
  • Serve in warmed bowls, stir in parmesan/VeganP if desired. 
  • Sprinkle with breadcrumbs
  • Enjoy!
It doesn't look as vibrant once cooked, but it tasted good.
* This recipe was loosely based on one I read somewhere, but modified to use up stuff I had in the fridge/cupboard/raised bed. Do make sure to wash the chard really thoroughly. I found a tiny snail clinging to the back of one leaf.  I may name this dish
  "Sausage Casserole Sans Escargot"


 


14 comments:

  1. Those tiny tenacious snails! I'm always unexpectedly finding them! The recipe sounds nice. Yum, sausages...

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  2. This looks absolutely delicious!

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  3. I don't use my slow cooker enough I used to before I retired, I must start again. We love butter beans and I often make a Rick Stein recipe based on a Greek dish using tomatoes, lots of garlic, butter beans, olive oil and dark greens. I think it is called something like Giganticus? Good for vegetarians/vegans. Regards Sue H

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  4. I think that's Gigantes Plaki [aka Greek Baked Beans]

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  5. Ha ha the snail!! Easy to miss.. to me the only way to eat butternut quash is disguised with other veg in a casserole!

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    Replies
    1. I really like squash, it's useful for bulking out soups or curries. And delicious roasted

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  6. Oh the snail! I'll have to remember that when I'm washing rainbow chard next year, I wonder how many we've inadvertently eaten over the years!
    Alison in Devon x

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    1. I suspect you'd notice the crunchy shells. 🐌🐌🐌Slugs and caterpillars 🐛🐛🐛 however, are a different matter 🤣🤣🤣

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  7. Oh gosh, thank goodness you noticed the extra bit of protein trying to cling to your leaves!! I meant to buy a butternut squash when I went to Aldi, they are on the Super Six this week.

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    Replies
    1. The Super Six [Aldi] and Pick of the Week [Lidl] often have excellent veg bargains

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  8. Looks like the perfect cold weather meal!
    JanF

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    Replies
    1. I blended the leftovers today to make a warming soup for lunch today.

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