Sausage casserole

Method

• step 1

  Heat the olive oil in a large casserole over a medium heat. Tip in the pancetta and cook for a few minutes until the fat has rendered and it’s starting to crisp. Scoop out onto a plate. Add the sausages, in batches, and fry in the pancetta fat until really brown all over. Remove to a plate. Once cool enough to handle, cut each sausage into 3-4 pieces.

• step 2

  In the same casserole, cook the onions and peppers with a pinch of salt for 5-10 minutes or until softened and the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the spices and tomato purée, and cook for a further minute. Tip in the chopped tomatoes and parmesan rind, fill the tin up with water and pour this in, too. Return the pancetta and sausages, and add the beans, then simmer gently for 45 minutes (this can be made up to 3 days ahead, and then reheated).

• step 3

  For the cheesy garlic bread, heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Use a sharp knife to cut slits every 4cm lengthways along the loaf, ¾ of the way down. Turn and carefully repeat widthways, to create squares. Mix together the butter, garlic, parsley and a little seasoning. Use clean hands to work the butter in between all the slits, then sprinkle liberally with the mozzarella and cheddar, pushing some down into the gaps. Wrap up in foil and put into the oven for 10 minutes, then remove the foil and put back in to crisp up for a further 10 minutes.

• step 4

  For the gremolata, mix together all of the ingredients in a bowl and season lightly. To serve, let people help themselves to the casserole, tear off some bread, spoon on some gremolata and parmesan.