Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe: “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe:
“Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe: “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
Ahhhh…..Slow Sunday! A day of comparative rest, unless you are cooking a “full on” family Sunday roast that is; a day to turn over in bed for another few minutes or half an hour, a day of “no bills” through the letter box. A day of familiar evening television viewing, with “Songs of Praise” and “The Antique’s Road Show”……a day to read the papers or pick up that book you have been wanting to finish, a day of family and friends, a day of dog walking in the snow or drizzle, depending on where you live, as well as days out to National Trust properties or to the local park……it’s the last day before a busy week ahead and it is very precious. One of the things I most love about Sundays are the family lunches – I like to start mine at 2pm for a civilised “late lunch”, which then pushes tea time to sandwiches or soup in front of the television. I am not an avid television watcher, I prefer to read, write or just potter around, but, I do like the thought of sitting down to watch a thoroughly good period drama, or an old film, knowing that meal times are over, the dishes are washed and put away and there’s nothing major to prepare or cook.
Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe: “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
This Sunday dawned to rolling mist, and a damp journey down to the end of the garden to let out the chickens. It’s the first Sunday since Christmas and New Year that means there is just the two of us. I was not in the mood for a roast, memories of turkeys, beef and ham are still whirling round my head. Everyone I speak to is on a diet or is “cutting back”, it’s an annual pastime, feast in December and fast in January, and to be honest, I find the lack of puddings, stuffing, meat and rich sauces quite refreshing. I am now craving salads, fruit, vegetables and simple wholesome meals, with NO spices oddly. So, with a cold and damp day to look forward to, I decided to pick up the baton for a healthy, but hearty, five-a-day cooking challenge, as set by Sainsbury’s. The brief is to come up with a healthy recipe or recipes that incorporate lots of fruit and vegetables – not hard for me, as I love fruit and vegetables, as does all the family, but, salads just did not appeal today with the plangent weather, and, a Sunday roast is too calorific.
Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe: “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
So, a casserole type of hotpot was devised; a hearty BUT healthy one pot meal that would have lots of “hidden veggies” and the minimum of meat, or in this case, reduced fat sausages and chicken breast. I popped out to Sainsbury’s to buy my ingredients, and I am pleased to report that my five-a-day basketwas filled to the brim with fresh, seasonal and BRITISH vegetables – leeks, potatoes, carrots, celery and onions as well as British pork sausages and chicken. I have a beautiful and very prolific sage bush in my back garden and it occurred to me that I could cook a “Sunday Lunch” style casserole hotpot with all the elements of a roast chicken dinner – chicken of course, sausages (as in sausage stuffing or those little chipolatas you sometimes get around a roast chicken), sage (as in stuffing again) and all of the seasonal veg that would be served with a Sunday roast, but, without the extra calories.
Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe: “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
All that remained was to select a nice bottle of wine, well it IS Sunday, and to set the table as my “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot simmered away in the Aga. Dinner was served at 2pm, the wine was chilled and crisp and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch looking out at the rain that was streaming against the windows, almost like sleet, as it is was ready to snow. The hotpot was fragrant with herbs and onions, the potatoes were crisp but soft and the vegetables had melted into the lentil thickened chicken gravy style stock; the chicken was succulent and the sausages were peppery and meaty (Sainsbury’s reduced-fat pork sausages are made with British pork and have a 72% meat content in them). It was relaxing and tasty and although we both felt very full, we felt “light”, as if we had had a healthy meal, not fat-laden or full of carbs.
Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe: “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
There is a lot of this hotpot left, as you can see from the photos, but, as I bought all my meat fresh, this will freeze beautifully and can be reheated one more time; I would defrost over night and then microwave or heat it up in a sauce pan or casserole dish on top of the stove. I hope this recipe inspires you to make it one lunch time or evening, it will make an excellent supper dish as well as a lighter and healthier Sunday lunch. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, I am away to finish reading a book I started last week now……..see you later, Karen
Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe: “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
“Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
Print recipe
| Serves | 4 to 6 |
| Prep time | 20 minutes |
| Cook time | 1 hour, 30 minutes |
| Total time | 1 hour, 50 minutes |
| Meal type | Lunch, Main Dish |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Casual Party, Halloween, Thanksgiving |
| Region | British |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- 2 onions, peeled and sliced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into slices the size of a £1 piece
- 1 medium leek, trimmed, cleaned and diced
- 2 celery sticks, trimmed and diced
- 1 x 400g tin of Sainsbury's chopped tomatoes (fill the empty tin with hot water)
- low-fat spray
- 6 x Sainsbury's Butcher's Choice reduced-fat British pork sausages (twisted in the middle and then cut to make 12 smaller sausages)
- 2 x large Sainsbury's British chicken breasts, skinless (cut into small chunks, weighing about 300g)
- 1 tablespoon red lentils
- small bunch of fresh sage leaves, finely chopped (about 14 leaves)
- 450g (1lb) Sainsbury's Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and very finely sliced into scallops
- 1 Knorr chicken stock pot (mixed with 300ml boiling water and the water from the chopped tomatoes tin)
- salt and pepper to taste
Note
A hearty hotpot style casserole that is packed with vegetables as part of your 5-a-day regime; this hotpot is healthy as well as tasty and makes good use of reduced-fat high meat content sausages and chicken breasts, for an easy and comforting "Sunday Lunch" alternative. Fresh sage leaves add a "stuffing" flavour to this hotpot and it's cooked in a chicken gravy style stock pot for richness and flavour. Perfect for a mid-week family meal as well, and the children will love it!
Directions
| Step 1 | Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas Mark 6. |
| Step 2 | Brown the sausages in a frying pan over a medium heat and set to one side. |
| Step 3 | Place all of the prepared vegetables (except the sliced potatoes), tinned tomatoes, red lentils and the chopped sage leaves into an oven-proof cast iron casserole dish that has a lid, such as Le Creuset. Mix them all together. |
| Step 4 | Add the chunks of chicken and then arrange the sausages on top of the vegetables, just pushing them in slightly. |
| Step 5 | Arrange the sliced potatoes over the top in neat circles making sure they cover the meat, sausages and vegetables underneath. Pour over the stock pot (that has been made up with 300ml boiling water) plus the water from the tinned tomatoes tin, season the potatoes with salt and freshly ground black pepper. |
| Step 6 | Place the lid on the casserole dish, put in pre-heated oven and cook for one and a half hours, taking the lid off for the last 30 minutes. |
| Step 7 | Serve immediately as a one pot meal with steamed seasonal greens if necessary. |
| Step 8 | IF YOU WANT TO USE A SLOW COOKER: Brown the chicken and sausages in batches, transfer to the slow cooker, then add the vegetables, herbs, stock and seasonings. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours. |
As this is a seasonal dish, I am also entering this recipe into Simple and in Season, which is Ren’s monthly challenge and is hosted by ME this month!
And, the addition of a goodly amount of sage in this recipe qualifies me to enter this into my own monthly challenge, Herbs on Saturday, which is being guest hosted by Vanesther this month!
As this dish only uses 6 sausages and 2 chicken breasts and contains lots of cheap seasonal vegetables, I think it qualifies for the Credit Crunch Munch that Camilla and Helen are jointly hosting every month!
“Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
Five-A-Day Family Supper Recipe: “Sunday Lunch” Chicken, Sausage and Vegetable Hotpot
Kathryn says
This sounds like my perfect kind of meal – hearty and delicious without being too heavy. Your photos are gorgeous too!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Kathryn! I received a new food styling and photo tips book for Christmas, as well as some reflectors and stuff, and today was my first day PLAYING with them all! So pleased that you may have noticed a difference!
Kieran McKernan says
This recipe looks great for the weather we are having at the moment
Isabel O'Brien says
Do you think this would work if I replaced the meat with vegetarian alternatives?
Karen Booth says
Absolutely! If I made this for my parents, who are vegetarian, I would use Quorn sausages and pieces in place of chicken and pork sausages. Karen
Sarah Davies says
What a warm, comforting meal for this cold weather.
Karen Booth says
Thanks Sarah, it went down very well today! Karen
Helen H says
That looks lovely and I think even my fussy children would enjoy it. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Helen, I am sure they would love this and it is packed full of veggies too! Karen
Ren Behan says
VERY nice recipe, Karen and lovely photos. I love the idea of lots of veggies, tinned tomatoes and red lentils, too. That really boosts the vegetable intake and indeed makes its very healthy.
Karen Booth says
Thanks Ren! I often add lentils to stews and casseroles,as a healthy thickener instead of flour! Karen
Laura Loves Cakes says
Ooooo I could have just done with this today…I’ve been a bit chilly all day and this would really have hit the spot…and if it goes a long way towards five-a-day, even better! Perhaps I’ll give this one a go! 🙂
Karen Booth says
I have not worked it out yet Laura, but reckon there is at least 2 or 3 of your 5-a-day in a portion of this hearty hot-pot! I need to pop over to see what your cakes challenge is this month! Karen
Camilla @Fabfood4all says
What brilliantly tasty and nutritious recipe Karen, I love it when everything is in one pot as it keeps the washing up to a minimum:-) Plus the leftover always seem to taste better the next day as they mature in flavour so I’m all for making extra!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Camilla! All linked up to yours and Helen’s frugal munching event now! Eating the leftovers tomorrow……always better the next day as you say! Karen
Barb @ Profiteroles & Ponytails says
This looks like the perfect dish to make on a lazy Sunday afternoon with enough left-overs for the rest of the week, or to pop into the freezer for another time (as you’ve noted that this freezes beautifully). Then again, do we actually ever have a lazy Sunday afternoon? What a beautiful blog you have here. I’ll be back to explore for sure!
Karen Booth says
Thanks so much Barb! Likewise, I spent a happy hour yesterday reading through your lovely site! Karen
ashleigh says
My husband would love this!
Karen Booth says
My husband loves it too! Karen
Maya Russell says
Great recipe. Thanks for the slow cooker way of cooking too. Lovely for a cold winter’s day.
Karen Booth says
I am going to make it the slow cooker way next time, it’s just that my Aga was lit, so I cooked it that way!
Fiona Matters says
That looks absolutely lovely. I do adore slow cooking.
Karen Booth says
Me too Fiona! And this is a lovely meal that is healthy too!
Susan El Carter says
A hearty and soul warming recipe for keeping the family full and warm. I’m a big fan of lentils too – especially puy.
Karen Booth says
I love all lentils, red ones are best for thickening and Puy for a an accompaniment! Karen
efia says
This looks incredible! Would love to make this for my friends!
Karen Booth says
IT’s easy and very tasty!
efia says
I would love to add some chilli and spinach to this!
Karen Booth says
That would perk it up a bit! Yes!
Amanda Oakley says
This looks lush! I’ve added the ingredients to my shopping list and will be making it at the weekend x
Karen Booth says
I hope you enjoy it Amanda!
Louisa says
Another recipe to bookmark as I know this would go down so well with my little lot!. What a lovely January idea, a perfectly warming hearty dinner but without being too heavy. Can’t wait to try!
Karen Booth says
Merci Louisa! IT is a lovely recipe, filled with veggies and tasty too! Karen
Sally Smith says
I love this recipe – and what’s more I’ll be trying it this weekend!
Karen Booth says
Great, I am sure you will love it Sally!
Laura Ingham says
Sounds wonderful – do you think this would work as well in a slow cooker? Mine does low, medium and hot so I think a hot setting would be best?
Karen Booth says
I have put some slow cooker timings in the recipe, Hot is High, so that is the setting to use!
Becki Brunetti says
Looks fab for a winters evening!!
Karen Booth says
Perfect for a snowy day Becki!
Helen Tyler says
This sounds SO good. I’ll have to give it a try!
Karen Booth says
I hope you enjoy it Helen! 🙂
Jen Schofield says
Lovely dish – will definitely give it a try!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Jen, I hope you enjoy it!
Fuss Free Helen says
Sorry I missed this at the time Karen, I keep forgetting to check the linkie. It looks lovely, delicious and healthy! Great photos too, you must be delighted, the practice and effort is making a huge difference!
Karen Booth says
Not a problem Helen – I LOVE linkys for challenges but often end up missing one myself sometimes! Thanks for the comments re. photos, I still have my old camera, but have discovered reflectors (Christmas pressie) and a new place to photograph in the winter! 🙂 Karen
Claire M says
This looks so yummy…will definitely be trying it out!!! x
CarolQ says
cooked this for dinner tonight – a cold snowy night, a perfect meal.
Jessica Magson says
Oh my goodness. Hearty or what? Am going to try this tomorrow for sure! Mmmm.
Karen Booth says
I think you will LOVE it Jessica!
olivia kirby says
These look fabulous, really easy, scrummy and economical too.
Jo Hutchinson says
This looks like a perfect winter recipe
Mary M says
This looks delicious 🙂
melanie stirling says
This looks and sounds delicious,my kind of food!
MELANIE HUNT says
this looks yummy. will have to try this 🙂
Sally Carter says
I usually cook Lancashire Hotpot but I’m going to try this as an alternative. A one-pot meal packed with healthy ingredients and with lots of flavour – looks like a crowd pleaser to me. Thanks for the recipe.
tracey bowden says
this has made me want to go and cook this right now! im not the best cook but i would love to give this a go
Rachael Barnard says
This looks good – a great alternative to Sunday Roast
Eva Vida says
I will cook this dish for my family.It looks so delicious 🙂
Maya Russell says
It’s definitely one you can put in the slow cooker and then go out for a long walk with the family and then return to a fabulous meal.
Alan C says
This looks like a great winter warmer! I must try it soon
Dawn Henson says
This looks delicious – I love Hotpots!!
Julie Davies says
will have to try this, it looks delicious
Beverley says
Oh, I wish I’d seen this a few weeks ago! I bet this would be lovely to pop in the oven before going snowballing/sledging/getting cold and tired! Definitely going to try this this weekend!
Tina Lawton says
Absolutely beautiful, I made this for tea tonight 🙂 Just perfect in this freezing weather 🙂
Carolin says
That looks SOOO good, I love hearty dishes like this, especially when the potatoes have taken in all the juices 🙂
Lynne OConnor says
I love one pot meals, especially when it comes to washing up and this looks like a real winner.
Fiona Matters says
This looks so tasty! I love the idea of slicing the potatoes. I usually either cut them into squares or mash them so this would be a great idea for me!
Judith Allen says
This looks a good idea, and would be great with chicken thighs. Cheaper, and I prefer it. I do like the idea of lots of leftovers too, can be portioned and frozen then. Very handy.
Beverley says
I’ve come back to this recipe as I bought three chickens close to the date. At least one is going on this recipe and being frozen!
Maya Russell says
Made this the other day and everyone loved it! I couldn’t find an ‘eek’ in the shops so put a leek in instead! 🙂
Phyllis Ellett says
Looks like a great recipe, something new to me putting Chicken and Sausages together this way, going to try it.
Jayne Sullivan says
This recipe looks so good. I am sure I can change it slightly to allow for my vegetarian lifestyle.
Fiona Matters says
Just yummy. I think I may cook this on Saturday to do a few meals through the week. Sausages are always fabulous and the addition of chicken adds a bit of variety.
Avvie Cunnington says
Oh this looks incredible!
chelsea grace says
what is the calorie count per serving ?
Tracy Nixon says
I’m making this at the weekend – a great Winter warmer thanks!
Linda, Kefalonia says
I live in Greece & Knorr Stockpots aren’t available here. What would you suggest instead?
Also could you use boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts as it’s going to cook for one and a half hours
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hi Linda, any stock cube will be fine, and chicken thighs would work very well! Karen