Bangers and mash

For the TV series, see Bangers and Mash (TV series).

Bangers and mash

Bangers and mash, also known as sausages and mash, is a traditional British dish made of mashed potatoes and sausages, the latter of which may consist of a variety of flavoured sausage made of pork or beef or a Cumberland sausage. It is sometimes served with onion gravy, fried onions, baked beans and peas.

This dish may, even when cooked at home, be thought of as an example of pub grub—relatively quick and easy to make in large quantities. More up-market varieties, with exotic sausages and mashes, are sold in gastropubs, as well as less exotic alternatives being available in regular public houses.

Along with jellied eels and pie and mash, the dish has particular iconic significance as traditional British working-class dishes. In the north, black pudding and leeks have a similar reputation.

In the United States, the ubiquitous Irish-themed 'Pub' will often feature the dish on its menu although there is no evidence that it is any more popular in Ireland than in other parts of the British Isles.

Etymology

Although it is sometimes stated that the term "bangers" has its origins in World War II, the term was actually in use at least as far back as 1919. The term "bangers" is attributed to the fact that sausages, particularly the kind made during World War II under rationing, were made with water so they were more likely to explode under high heat if not cooked carefully; modern sausages do not have this attribute.

In popular culture

• Peter Sellers recorded a song with Sophia Loren, "Bangers and Mash" (1961), extolling their virtues: "No wonder you're so bony Joe, and skinny as a rake. Well then, give us a bash at the bangers and mash me mother used to make".
• In a 1980 episode of All_Creatures_Great_and_Small_(TV_series) entitled Home and Away, Tristan_Farnon prepares bangers and mash for every meal for his brother Siegfried while the other members of the household are away.
• In the 1991 film King Ralph, King Ralph I (John Goodman), while being schooled in English history and culture by his Private Secretary Sir Cedric Willingham (Peter O'Toole), is shown a variety of traditional English dishes, including bangers and mash. When Sir Cedric explains to him about spotted dick, he mistakes the bangers for the traditional English dessert and replies to Sir Cedric, "Spotted dick? Dick of what?"
• The British band Radiohead pays homage to this dish on the bonus disc to their 2007 album In Rainbows with the track entitled "Bangers + Mash".
• Keith Richards, in his autobiography Life gives his own personal recipe for bangers and mash.
• In a 1994 episode of Frasier titled Duke's, We Hardly Knew Ye, British housekeeper Daphne responds to Frasier's comment about the third date being the occasion where two individuals decide to have sex with, "It takes more than three dinners to get bangers and mash with Daphne Moon."
• In the comedy series Arrested Development, Tobias Funke said "Okay,who'd like a banger in the mouth? Oh, right, I forgot. Here in the states, you call it a sausage in the mouth.", to which Michael Bluth replied "We just call it sausage."
• In the 2010 film Get Him to the Greek, Aldous Snow portrayed by actor Russell Brand sings Bangers,Beans and Mash
• In Dragon Quest 8's (video game) second in-game village, The Hero is greeted by two children named Bangers & Mash.

References

Notes

External links

• Media related to Bangers and mash at Wikimedia Commons
• Bangers & Mash at Wikibook Cookbooks