Bushra Griffith
A comforting family recipe, cheese and potato pie is a beloved British classic. It's a simple, filling, and cheap dish that can be served as a main or side. But what do you serve with it? The pie is stodgy and heavy, so lighter and greener sides are recommended. Frozen peas, salad, sauteed spinach or kale, and seasonal vegetables like roasted tomatoes and mushrooms are all great options. For a more British feel, serve with baked beans, or for a nostalgic twist, try soft bread and pickled beetroot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main course | Peas, tomato ketchup, soft bread, salad, sauteed spinach or kale, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, pickled beetroot, HP sauce |
| Side dish | Sausages, baked beans, steamed cabbage, salad leaves, other seasonal vegetables and greens |
| Cheese | Mature cheddar, Wensleydale, Cheshire, extra mature cheddar, vintage cheddar, Lancashire, goat's cheese, chilli cheese |
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What You'll Learn
Seasonal vegetables and greens
Cheese and potato pie is a comforting and flavourful dish that can be heavy and packed with carbohydrates and protein. As a result, it is best served with lighter side dishes, and seasonal vegetables and greens are an excellent choice to balance out the meal. Here are some ideas for seasonal vegetables and greens to serve with cheese and potato pie:
Spring
In the spring, you can serve the pie with asparagus, artichokes, and watercress. These vegetables are at their peak freshness and offer a delightful contrast to the pie with their crisp texture and bright flavours. For a simple preparation, grill or roast the asparagus and artichokes with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.
Summer
During the summer months, serve the pie with an array of fresh salad leaves, such as arugula, spinach, and mixed greens. These leaves can be tossed with sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette to create a refreshing side salad. Summer is also the perfect time to enjoy grilled vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant.
Autumn/Fall
As the weather turns cooler, heartier greens such as kale, Swiss chard, and cabbage come into season. Sautéed kale with a hint of garlic and a squeeze of lemon can be a delicious and nutritious side dish. Braised red cabbage is another excellent option, offering a sweet and tangy flavour profile that pairs well with the pie.
Winter
In the winter, root vegetables like roasted carrots, parsnips, and beets can add a sweet and earthy flavour to your meal. Winter greens such as collard greens, turnip greens, and mustard greens are also in season and can be prepared in a variety of ways, including steaming, sautéing, or braising.
Remember, when choosing seasonal vegetables and greens, opt for those that are locally sourced and fresh, as they will have the best flavour and nutritional value.
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Sausages and baked beans
Choosing the Right Sausages
Select good-quality sausages that complement the other flavours in your meal. You can opt for classic pork sausages or try something different like turkey sausages. If you're catering to vegetarians, there are also many tasty vegetarian sausage options available.
Baked Beans: The Sweet and Savoury Companion
Baked beans are a versatile side dish that goes well with sausages and cheese and potato pie. You can use canned baked beans for convenience, or make them from scratch for a more customised flavour. If you want to elevate your baked beans, consider adding bacon or turkey bacon for a savoury twist.
Cooking Methods
There are various ways to prepare sausages and baked beans to accompany your cheese and potato pie. You can cook the sausages separately and serve them sliced or whole alongside the beans. Alternatively, you can create a sausage and bean mixture by combining cooked sausages with baked beans and other ingredients like onions and Worcestershire sauce. This mixture can be topped with mashed potatoes and cheese to create a delicious, hearty casserole-style dish.
Presentation and Serving Suggestions
When serving sausages and baked beans with cheese and potato pie, consider the visual appeal and flavour balance. You can arrange the sausages and beans alongside the pie or create a bed of beans with sausages on top, garnished with herbs like chives. Remember that cheese and potato pie is a hearty dish, so consider serving smaller portions of sausages and beans to avoid overwhelming the plate.
Customisation and Variations
Feel free to experiment with different types of sausages, beans, and additional ingredients to create unique flavour profiles. You can also incorporate vegetables like onions, garlic, or peppers into your sausage and bean mixture for added texture and flavour. Spices and herbs can also be used to enhance the dish, such as paprika, chilli flakes, or fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary.
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Bread and pickled beetroot
A comforting family recipe, cheese and potato pie is a simple, filling, and cheap dish that can be served as a side or a main meal. The pie is stodgy, heavy, and packed with carbs and protein, so it is best accompanied by lighter and greener side dishes.
Bread is a great side to serve with cheese and potato pie, especially if you are using soft spelt bread buns. HP sauce, a spicy brown condiment, can be served alongside the bread to enhance the flavour.
The cheese and potato pie can be made with extra mature or vintage Cheddar cheese, boiled chopped onions, chopped spring onions, chives, or wild garlic. The pie can be garnished with sliced tomatoes and served with steamed cabbage, salad leaves, or other seasonal vegetables and greens.
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Spicy sausage and bell peppers
Choosing the Right Sausage
Select a spicy sausage variety to complement the cheese and potato pie. You can opt for Italian sausage, such as sweet or hot Italian sausage, depending on your preference for spiciness. Precooked Italian sausage links made from chicken or turkey are lean and packed with protein, making them a convenient and healthy choice. If you want to spice things up even more, go for spicy smoked Polish sausage or choose any other kind of sausage you prefer.
Preparing the Bell Peppers and Onions
Bell peppers are the star of this dish, and both red and green bell peppers work wonderfully. Feel free to add yellow or orange bell peppers for extra colour and flavour. To prepare, simply cut the bell peppers into strips or chunks. For the onions, you can use regular onions or sweet onions, such as hybrid onion/scallion. Chop the onions into a dice or slice them thinly, depending on your preferred texture.
Cooking Method
Cooking spicy sausage and bell peppers is straightforward and can be done in a skillet or a baking dish. Here's a simple method:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook the sausage until browned, then set it aside.
- In the same skillet, cook the bell peppers and onions until they soften.
- Add the cooked sausage back to the skillet and combine with the vegetables.
- Pour in white wine or chicken stock, and add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish if you haven't already used one.
- Cover the dish and bake in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until hot and bubbling.
Serving Suggestions and Sides
- Serve it as a side dish alongside the cheese and potato pie.
- Enjoy it as a light meal on its own.
- Make sandwiches by piling the sausage and peppers into toasted hoagie buns and topping them with melted provolone or mozzarella cheese.
- Combine it with pasta: toss the sausage and peppers with whole wheat noodles like penne and your favourite marinara sauce.
- For a heartier meal, serve it with rice or roasted potatoes on the side.
Additionally, you can offer a variety of toppings and condiments, such as sliced fresh basil, chopped fresh parsley, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and chilli flakes, to let your guests customise their plates.
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Salad
A fresh, mixed salad is a great side dish to serve with a cheese and potato pie. The stodgy, heavy pie is packed with carbs and protein, so a light, green salad is a perfect pairing. You could include salad leaves, spinach, baby kale, rocket, baby chard, and shredded beetroot.
If you want to stick to a more traditional British meal, you could serve the pie with peas, and even a good dollop of tomato ketchup.
For a heartier salad, you could add some mushrooms, or roasted tomatoes, which can be cooked in the oven at the same time as the pie.
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Frequently asked questions
You can serve the pie with soft bread, either by itself or with a side of pickled beetroot and a smothering of HP sauce.
You can serve the pie with sausages, beans, carrots, cauliflower, salad, or seasonal vegetables and greens.
You can serve the pie with grilled chicken, casseroles, or luxury fish pie.
