Posh Mash

My favourite moment of early winter is the first time you realise your breath is hanging in the air, shimmering before you. On those crispy mornings I can’t help but breathe deeply, inhaling the hint of frost and relishing the warmth of knitted gloves, hats and a full stomach. This weekend I had one of those wintery moments, which inspired me to cook up the hearty English classic of bangers and mash. Whilst I love potato, this time of year especially I like to throw it out in favour of other root vegetables: And so enter parsnips and swede for my classic with a twist, and a recipe for Posh Mash.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Prepare! Peel the swede and parsnips and cut them in to chunks.
3. Add the swede to a pot of boiling water, and after a few minutes throw in the parsnips.
4. Leave to cook until soft, and in the meantime prepare your topping and the rest of the bake.
5. In a bowl combine ¾ of the breadcrumbs with the 2 eggs (beaten), the honey, half the Gran Padano, salt and pepper to taste and a little thyme for the bake.
6. In another bowl combine the remaining breadcrumbs with a splash of olive oil and more thyme for the topping.
7. Once soft drain the parsnips and swede and mash with some butter.
8. Combine the mash with the bake mixture and smooth flat in to a baking dish. I like using a long shallow one to get as much crust as possible (my favourite bit).
9. Sprinkle the topping over the dish and then evenly cover with the remaining Gran Padano.
10.  Cover with tin foil and put in the oven to bake for 40 minutes.
11. Around 5/10 minutes before it’s done I like to remove the tin foil to allow the top of the bake to crispen and turn golden.

I love this posh mash with sausages (veggie or otherwise) and thick red onion gravy for a proper winter warmer. And with the Christmas lights going up by the day why not follow with a mince pie?

So that’s my posh mash for wintery days, what’s your favourite cold weather meal?

Happy eating!

x

Tags: Mash Parsnip Swede Winter Warmer

Categories: Domestic Goddess Ilona's Weekly Munchies