Dinner

Somerset Stew with Cheddar & Parsley Mash Recipe

ByBen Miller January 17, 2026January 17, 2026

Introduction

Somerset stew with cheddar & parsley mash is a comforting, hearty dish combining tender vegetables, beans, and cider-infused broth. Paired with rich, creamy mash dotted with sharp cheddar and fresh parsley, it’s perfect for a satisfying family meal.

The image shows a white bowl filled with two main layers. On the left side, there is a thick, chunky stew with a reddish-orange color, containing swollen, pale yellow beans and pieces of soft, translucent onions. The stew’s texture is rich and slightly glossy with small green herb sprigs on top for garnish. On the right side, there is a generous scoop of creamy mashed potatoes with a smooth, fluffy texture mixed with small green herb bits, giving it a slight speckled look. A sprig of fresh herb rests delicately on the mashed potatoes. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 tbsp oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 leek, chopped
1 tbsp tomato purée
400g can chopped tomatoes
200g can butter beans, drained
400g can flageolet beans, rinsed and drained
200ml dry cider
250ml vegetable stock
Few sprigs thyme, leaves only
Cheddar & parsley mash (see tip below)
2 sausages
1 tsp olive oil per portion

Instructions

Step 1: Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, and leek, frying gently until soft but not browned, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 2: Stir in the tomato purée and cook for 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, butter beans, flageolet beans, cider, vegetable stock, and thyme leaves. Bring to a simmer, then cook gently for 15-20 minutes until the stew has thickened and the vegetables are tender.
Step 3: While the stew simmers, prepare the sausages by cutting each into 3-4 chunks. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and brown the sausage pieces for about 5 minutes.
Step 4: Add the browned sausage chunks to the stew and simmer gently with it for the remaining cooking time to blend the flavors.
Step 5: Serve the stew hot with a generous helping of cheddar & parsley mash (see tip below) on the side.

Tips & Variations

For the cheddar & parsley mash, boil peeled and chunked potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain, mash with butter, milk, extra-mature grated cheddar, and chopped parsley. Season to taste. For a golden crust, place the mash under a grill with a few knobs of butter.
Use your favorite sausages—pork, beef, or vegetarian—to suit dietary preferences.
To make the stew vegan, omit sausages and use vegetable broth with extra herbs for flavor.

Storage

Store any leftover stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave until hot throughout. The cheddar & parsley mash is best made fresh but can be refrigerated for a day and reheated with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.

How to Serve

The dish shows two main layers in a white bowl set on a white marbled surface: on the right side, there is a smooth, creamy layer of mashed potatoes with visible small green herbs mixed in, giving it a light texture with some specks of green; on the left side, there is a thick, reddish-orange tomato sauce with soft chunks of onion and beans, topped with a few small green herb sprigs for garnish. The colors contrast well, with the bright white and green mix of the mashed potatoes beside the warm, rich tones of the sauce and beans. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this stew without the sausages?

Yes, the stew is delicious on its own as a hearty vegetarian meal. The sausages add extra protein and flavor but can be omitted or replaced with your preferred protein.

What can I use instead of dry cider?

If you don’t have dry cider, you can substitute with dry white wine, apple juice mixed with a splash of vinegar, or additional vegetable stock for a similar depth of flavor.