Sausage and Veg Casserole

I love this casserole. It's packed full of spring veg and feels much lighter than a winter casserole. I actually used asparagus and sugar snap peas instead of broad beans. I used this to clean out the fridge of veg and creme fraiche, which is why it has way too much sauce, I had more creme fraiche than I realised! The taste of this is just so good. I served it with cauliflower mash. 

Sausage and Veg Casserole (from Good Food Magazine July 2013)
(Serves 4)

1 tbsp olive oil
12 sausages
1 small onion, chopped
1 fennel bulb, quartered, then sliced
2 garlic clove, crushed
½ red chilli, finely chopped
2 tsp fennel seed
2 tbsp plain flour
150ml white wine
500ml chicken stock
200g pack green bean, halved
300g broad bean, double podded
300g pea
200g pot half-fat crème fraîche
zest 1 lemon, juice of ½
handful parsley, chopped
handful basil, chopped

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the sausages, cook for a few mins until browned all over, then transfer to a plate.

Tip the onion and fennel into the pan and cook for 10-15 mins until soft, then add the garlic, half the chilli and the fennel seeds. Cook for a few more mins, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the flour and cook for 1 min. Pour in the wine, let it bubble for 1 min, give everything a good stir, then add the stock and return the sausages to the pan, seasoning well.

Cover and simmer for 30 mins. Add the green beans, broad beans and peas, then cook, uncovered, for 2 more mins. Stir in the crème fraîche, lemon zest and juice, and herbs. Serve.