The sausage roll is a British and Irish staple. It’s easy to overlook how clever they are. A golden-brown buttery puff pastry paired with a meaty filling of sausage, eggs, onions, and spices gives the rolls a delicious flakiness.
This easy recipe celebrates the incredible variety of British Sausages and allows for improvisation. You can add other vegetables to your liking or mix two or more types of sausages for the filling. You can make small sausage rolls or large ones. They can be packed in a picnic basket or lunch box. Or, you can serve them hot or cold as a light snack. Serve your rolls with honey-mustard sauce or cheese beer dip.
Make it yours by adding the spices and flavors you like. Cut up a big batch and freeze it to have on hand these rolls for an afternoon snack or a quick dinner.
Click to Watch This British Sausage roll Recipe in Action
The instructions were easy to follow, and the results were fantastic. In my part of America, there are no 25-ounce puff pastry packages. However, two 14-ounce packages were perfect. It was defrosted in the fridge, and I kept it calm throughout. Each box contained almost the ideal size sheet and only needed a little rolling.”
Ingredients
One tablespoon of vegetable oil
One medium onion, finely chopped
2 pounds of sausage meat
Three medium eggs (free-range if possible) divided
Black pepper ground to taste
Two tablespoons of flour for rolling out the pastry
Puff pastry or shortcrust 25 ounces
How to Make it
Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Add the onion and cook it for 7 minutes or until the onions are lightly browned.
Add the cooked onions, sausage meat, and two eggs to a large bowl. Add a few pinches of pepper and salt to the mixture. Mix until all ingredients are evenly and thoroughly combined.
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface into two rectangles measuring eight by 10 inches. Each rectangle should be cut into two long strips, for a total of four. Rest them in the refrigerator for at least 10 min.
Place the pastry on two baking sheets lightly greased. Form the sausage meat in the middle of each pie into a sausage the same length as the pastry strip. In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg and lightly brush the edges of each pastry.
Fold the pastry over and cover the meat filling to form long rolls. Turn the sausage roll so that the seam is on the underside. Brush the surface of the sausage roll lightly with egg.
You can also cut the rolls to 1 1/2-inch lengths. You can also vary the length of the rolls to suit the type you desire.
Then cook in a preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let them cool down before packing them into your lunchbox or picnic basket, or eat them immediately. Enjoy.
You can also check out our Tips
If you cannot find good quality sausage meat, purchase your favorite British sausages, and remove the skins. Using different sausages, you can create a variety of fillings to use in your sausage rolls. You can combine two or three types of links if you wish.
If you are using frozen puff pastry that was purchased at a store, make sure to follow the instructions of the manufacturer before using it.
Before shaping the sausage, wet your hands with water to prevent the mixture from sticking.
Return the pans to the refrigerator to chill them before cutting.
Line the baking pans with parchment or greased foil to reduce mess.
Recipe Variation
Use small cupcake tins to create a new shape. Cover the bottom with a puff pastry disc. Add one tablespoon to the pastry and cover it with a smaller disk. Press the edges together so that both discs are pressed together. Use egg wash to cover the top and pinch the upper disk with a fork before baking.
Sauté the peppers, onions, and spinach in vegetable oil until soft. Add any other vegetables for flavor and volume. By adding more vegetables, you can make more meat rolls.
Other herbs can also be added to the meat.
Scottish sausage rolls are often filled with ground beef instead of pork sausage.
How to store and freeze
The leftover baked sausage rolls will keep in the fridge for several days. You can eat them cold or warm them gently in the oven.
To get the best results, freeze the unbaked rolls before adding the Egg Wash to the top. They can be cut into desired sizes and frozen on a baking sheet for several hours. Then, they can be placed in a freezer bag or container.
To freeze sausage rolls that have been baked, allow them to cool completely before packing them into a container. Use parchment paper between the layers.
You can freeze sausage rolls for up to three months.
The sausage rolls can be defrosted in the fridge overnight and brought to room temperature before baking. Unbaked rolls should be brushed with egg wash and baked according to the recipe. They may require more time to cook. Heat the baked rolls in a 400 F oven for 15 to 20 mins.
What is a Sausage Roll?
In the United States, the British sausage roll has yet to be well known. The British sausage roll has been a staple food in the U.K. since the 1800s. It is distinguished by the fact that it uses ground sausage meat instead of sausage inside the casing. The closest American equivalent is Pigs in a Blanket which uses crescent rolls to wrap hot dogs.
