Italian Irishman’s Delight: A Pie Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 2 tablespoons sausage drippings
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 2 apples, cored and sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup water
• 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes
• 1 tablespoon melted margarine

Step 1

Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and give a 2-quart casserole dish a quick grease. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage, breaking it up as it browns and gets crumbly—this should take about 10 minutes. Scoop the sausage out with a slotted spoon into your casserole dish, then drain most of the fat, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan.

Step 2

In another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of margarine over medium heat and sauté the apple and onion slices until they’re soft and fragrant, around 8 minutes. Add them to the sausage in the casserole and gently mix everything together. Season with a bit of salt, black pepper, and oregano to your taste.

Step 3

Using the reserved drippings in the skillet, sprinkle in the flour and cook it until it turns golden brown. Slowly whisk in the water, stirring until the mixture thickens into a gravy, which should take about 3 minutes. Pour this gravy over the sausage and apple mixture, then spread mashed potatoes on top, using a spoon to create little peaks. Brush the potatoes lightly with 1 tablespoon of melted margarine.

Step 4

Pop the dish in the oven and bake until the mashed potatoes turn a lovely golden color and the filling is bubbling nicely, about 30 minutes. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving and enjoy!