Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450g) fatty ground (minced) pork
  • 1 cup (50g) fresh bread crumbs
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or marjoram
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or sunflower oil
  •  
  • 3 pounds (1.5kg) baking or russet (floury) potatoes, scrubbed
  • 1/2 cup (100g) butter
  • 1 pound, 2 ounces (500g) green cabbage, outer leaves removed
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 cup (250ml) milk, heated
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large cooking apple (12 ounces /350g), peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons (25-50g) sugar

Method

  • Mix together the pork, bread crumbs, egg, garlic, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Fry a tiny bit of the mixture in a pan with a little olive or sunflower oil to see if the seasoning is good.
  • Divide the mixture into twelve portions and shape each one into a sausage. Place on a baking sheet or plate and set aside until you want to cook them. (Chilling them for a day in the fridge is fine, or you can freeze them.)
  • Cook the potatoes, covered, in boiling salted water for 10 minutes. Then drain three-quarters of the water and continue to cook over low heat with the lid on for another 20 to 30 minutes until cooked. Test using a skewer or feel with your fingers; avoid stabbing the potatoes with a knife because this will make them break up. When cooked, drain all the remaining water, peel, and mash with 1/4 cup of the butter while hot. I usually hold the potato on a fork and peel with a knife if they are hot.
  • Meanwhile, cook the cabbage. Cut the cabbage into quarters, then cut out the core. Thinly slice the cabbage across the grain. Heat a saucepan, add the remaining 1/4 cup butter, water, and the sliced cabbage. Toss over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until just cooked. Add to the potatoes, then add most of the hot milk and the parsley, keeping some of the milk back in case you do not need it all.
  • Season to taste and beat until creamy and smooth, adding more milk if necessary. While the potatoes are cooking, make the applesauce and sausage.
  • Put the apple in a small saucepan with the water. Cover and cook over a gentle heat (stir every now and then) until the apple has broken down to a mush. Add sugar to taste.
  • Heat a frying pan on a low to medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and gently fry the sausages for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden on all sides and cooked on the inside. Serve with the colcannon and applesauce.