General Chat

My OH (like most men) has his 'speciality dish' which creates a HUGE amount of washing up and a pressure cooker. We only have this pressure cooker so he can cook this dish about once every six months. The pressure cooker is now on it's last legs (it's about 30 yrs old) and I don't want to buy a new one.

So, I suggested tonight that he tries to cook the same dish in the microwave.

Disaster!!

This dish is 'Sausages in a Piquant Sauce'. Basically, it's onions (fried) with some brown sugar then some flour added when they are cooked. Mashed up tomatoes, chicken stock, basil, seasoning, celery salt etc are then added to the onions. It's then put in the pressure cooker for about 8 minutes. The sausages are cooked separately then put in the sauce for a few minutes before serving.

We did everything the same but put it in the microwave for 5 minutes and it came out a mushy glob. Not nice to look at and (apparently) not nice to eat (I don't eat it anyway). So, what did we do wrong? Normally it is quite runny and flavoursome. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Could this not be done in a good quality saucepan on a low heat??
or in the oven?
The microwave was most likely set for to long a time, try 2 minuts at a time.
Bridget

I might try this my husband really enjoys sausages

Hi Bridget

I think that may work but it's convincing OH. Why have we been using a pressure cooker all these years? He's convinced it has magic properties I think lol.

We did take it out of the microwave after each minute to stir and check it but it never really looked good.

Thanks again
Beverley

Hi Beverley
The dish sounds tasty! but I'm now wondering why it's been cooked in a pressure cooker?

If the sauce is made on the hob I would think it would be pefectly okay, when ingredients have been simmered for a little while,to then put it into a casserole dish.
Cook your sausages and then, as you did,before pop them into the dish with the sauce to finish off in the oven.
I do mine by this method and it doesn't cause a huge amount of washing up......simples ;O) xx

Hi Mau

Thanks for the tips. I think the washing up is created more by OH than by the recipe but still.....

He had this recipe book way, way before microwaves were invented and it's the only recipe he ever uses. The recipe book is specifically for pressure cookers.

I think it's a man thing.....

Not sure if I'll convince him to try deviating again but you never know.

Hi Sandie

We have replaced parts on the pressure cooker too but they just don't seem to fit properly for some reason. Getting the right parts for just one dish is a real headache.

6 large very ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 large can stewed tomatoes with their juice,
1 large onion, chopped
3 tablespoons white vinegar
3 tablespoon sugar (or less)
juice from 1 or 2 fresh limes
1 teaspoon salt
8 to 10 jalapeno peppers, chopped (seeded or not, your choice)

Combine all ingredients in a SAUCEPAN.
Mix well.
Simmer on low heat for 1 hour

Oh. another nice sounding recipe for sausages...maybe we should add more to this thread! My OH loves sausages so all recpies greatly received.
Re pressure cooker...I used to use mine a lot when we had the children at home...um..maybe I will look out for another one..any recommendations???

Bridget