Cauliflower Cheese Topped Sausage Pie

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Peel, chop and wash the potatoes and place them in a large saucepan of salted, boiling water and cook for 15 minutes until soft. Cut the florets from the cauliflower and wash them then add them to another saucepan of salted, boiling water and cook for 15 minutes until softened
2. Chop the onion and add it to a large frying pan with a drizzle of oil and cook for a few minutes until it softens. Add the garlic and thyme and fry for a further 3 minutes then using a knife, cut the skin of the sausages lengthways down the middle, remove the meat and add it into the pan. Fry everything for a further 5 minutes until the sausage starts to brown then add in the sliced leek and cook for a further 5-7 minutes, stirring continuously until leeks are really soft and sausage is well cooked. Check the cauliflower whilst this is cooking, if they are a medium soft, drain them and set the aside. (If they go too soggy they’ll make the pie watery)
3. Make the gravy and add that into the sausage mixture and stir then turn the heat off.
4. Drain the potatoes, mash them with a masher, add a splash of milk, pinch of salt and generous knob of butter and mix well with a fork to make a smooth mash then set aside.
5. To make the cheese sauce, add a generous knob of butter to a small sauce pan over a low-medium heat. When melted add in the flour and mix into a smooth paste, add a little more butter if its too thick or turning into a ball. Start adding your milk gradually, add a small amount and mix constantly until the sauce is smooth then add a little more. Only add more milk if the flour has mixed properly into the milk. Keep doing this until the milk has all gone then let it simmer and thicken. Add the cheese with salt and pepper and mix until melted. It should be a medium thick consistency. Add more milk or cheese to thicken/thin it out if needed.
6. Pour the sausage mixture into a large casserole dish then add the cauliflower on top. Fill in any gaps with mash then top with a layer of cheese sauce and grated cheddar. Place in the oven for 25-30 mins until golden on top then remove and serve with whatever veggies you like and more gravy if you fancy!