Sausage Cheesy Bean Casserole

This is a great way to make one pack of sausages serve 6-8 people. Its a delicious casserole with loads of flavour too. The sausage meat is mixed with Paxo stuffing (see note at bottom of page) and stuffed with a chunk of mozzarella - baked and then put into a tomato, pepper and baked bean casserole.

A cheap and cheerful dish that kids will love as much as the adults; its a proper comfort food too!

Ingredients:     (Serves 6-8)

400g pork sausage meat
80g dried Paxo stuffing (made up with water & cooled)
100g block (cooking) mozzarella, cubed
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. chilli flakes
1 onion, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 yellow pepper, sliced
1 clove garlic, sliced
400g tin tomatoes
200g baked beans
1 tbsp. tomato puree (paste)
1 bay leaf
salt & pepper


Method:

Set the oven to 220 C. Mix the sausage meat with the Paxo stuffing, garlic powder, chilli flakes and a little salt & pepper until combined. Take a small piece and roll in your hands. Flatten  and put a piece of cubed mozzarella in the centre. Seal the ball and roll well to seal. Place on a baking tray and continue until you have all your meatballs made up. Bake at 220 C for 10 minutes.

In a large casserole dish, fry the onion, garlic and peppers until soft. Add the puree, tomatoes, beans and bay leaves. Cook on a gentle heat for 10 minutes, until thickened and bubbling.

Gently add the meatballs (its okay if some of the cheese has oozed). Spoon over the sauce to cover the meatballs and cook on a medium heat for about 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt & pepper.

Serve with buttered crusty bread, creamy mash or boiled potatoes and enjoy!!

Note: Paxo stuffing is a typically British product. To make yourself - its just dried breadcrumbs, mixed with chopped sage, onion powder and water.