A Swedish love story: Smoked sausage stroganoff 

This is a Swedish comfort-food classic – one you’re unlikely to see served outside of work canteens or someone’s home. It’s usually accompanied by rice, but I like mine with pasta and a few capers in the sauce for a bit of a kick.

SERVES 4

a knob of butter

1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped

350g good quality smoked sausage, very finely diced

1 tbsp tomato purée

1 tbsp dijon mustard

1 tsp paprika

130ml single cream

sea salt and black pepper

400g tagliatelle or pappardelle

2 tbsp capers (or try the homemade eldercapers in the book)

a handful of finely chopped fresh chives

■ Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil for the tagliatelle or pappardelle.

■ Put the butter, onion and sausage into a large pan. Fry, stirring occasionally, until the sausage and onion are golden. Add the tomato purée, mustard, paprika and cream, continuing to stir so the flavours mingle, and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust to taste.

■ Add the pasta to the pan of boiling water. Cook for 7 minutes (or according to packet instructions).

■ Drain the pasta, reserving a small mugful (around 80ml) of pasta water. Add the mug of pasta water to the sausage sauce. Stir in with the capers and take off the heat. Toss the pasta in the sauce until well coated, and sprinkle over the chives. Serve immediately.

GET AHEAD The sauce can be made the day before (just don’t add the chives at this stage) and then warmed up gently when you need it. You can also freeze the sauce in an airtight container for up to a month. Cook the pasta fresh and simply add the pasta water (as stated above) just before serving.