OK let's dispense with the myths. Yes you can buy a Spachcock Chicken for £7 in the Supermarket. It's be nicely presented with a couple of sticks crossed through it and an oil and herb marinate. But it will generally be the size of a Sparrow!
We had some Casserole stock in the freezer from a previous meal and also some giant Yorkshire Pudding. Waste not Want not etc! This is an ideal slow cooker dish, but it will work just as well in a covered casserole dish in the oven on a low heat.
Ingredients-
Casserole gravy
A Handful of Kale
1 Onion, sliced
1 Stick of Celery, chopped
¼ or a Celeriac, chopped
1 Carrot, chopped
3 small Potatoes, cubed
Handful of Baby Sweetcorn,chopped
5 Mushrooms, chopped
2 cooked sausages, sliced
400g Kidney, chopped and coated in seasoned flour
Red and Green Lentils
Mixed dried Beans & Peas
Seasoning-
Salt & Pepper
Onion Salt
Garlic Salt
Paprika
Mixed Herbs
Dried Rosemary
Chilli Flakes
Method-
(1) Soak the Lentils, Beans and Peas in salted water with 1tsp of Bicarbonate of Soda and a little Cider / White Wine vinegar to release the starch.
(2) In a large pot add the Onion, Celery, Carrot, Potatoes, Celeriac, Sweetcorn to enough water to cover. Add the seasonings and simmer for 20 minutes.
(3) Add the Casserole gravy, stir to combine and cook on a low heat.
(4) In a frying pan cook the Kidney in a little oil until the oil has absorbs the flour.
(5) Add to the casserole and stir in.
(6) Transfer everything to a casserole dish or Slow Cooker.
(7) Drain the Lentils, Beans and Peas and rinse. Add to the casserole.
(8) Cook for a further 20 minutes.
(9) Finally add the Mushrooms and Sausage and cook until the Mushrooms have softened and combined into the casserole.
We served ours with blanched Kale on Yorkshire Pudding. Although we enjoy a bit of meat in our meals this casserole with all the legumes in it would have worked perfectly well without.
