Last week we were craving sausage rolls. I don't believe that I had ever tasted a sausage roll prior to coming here to the UK.
My mother used to make weiner rolls when I was growing up. They were something we all loved as a family.
Mom made beautiful plain pastry. It wasn't puff pastry, just plain. All of her pies, etc. were beautiful and we loved them.
When she made weiner rolls she would make her regular pastry recipe and then roll it out. The rolled pastry would be cut into rectangles large enough to wrap around weiners, enclosing them completely.
You can even get Vegetarian ones. Both are wrapped in flaky puffed pastry. Of course you get what you pay for.
The more expensive ones will have a lovely rich and ample meaty filling. Using a quality sausage meat. The cheap ones will be mostly pastry and filled with nasty sausage meat. People seem to enjoy both.
The first time I tasted a homemade one was at my friend Joy's in South Wales. They were magnificent. It truly was love at first bite.
You can find her recipe here. She was really generous and shared it with me. I think she also sent us home with a bag filled with them that visit along with her gorgeous lamb samosas!
This recipe for Apple & Sage Sausage Rolls was one I had clipped from the BBC Good Food Magazine back in 2012. I had saved it in my recipe files to bake one day.
I discovered it while going through them the other day and thought that there would be no time like the present to make them. I had puff pastry and sausage meat in the freezer that I needed to use up.
The directions were a bit ambiguous. I have tried to make them as straight forward as I can, as well as adding my usual North American measurements.
Try to use the best sausage meat that you can afford. I actually did a tutorial on making your own sausages here.
I know you won't be able to get British Sausages in North America. You can however make some tasty sausage meat yourself. I highly recommend it. They are really delicious.
You only need the meat to make the filling for these sausage rolls. It is mixed with chopped fresh sage and apple. I peeled the apple.
I used French all-butter puff pastry that I had in the freezer. If you can find all-butter puff pastry, I really recommend it.
I always think it is best to use natural ingredients whenever you can. I don't like things with artificial ingredients and preservatives. Go as pure as you can.
Apple & Sage Sausage Rolls
Ingredients
- 400g (16 ounces) of sausage meat (from about 6 meaty sausages)
- 1 clove of garlic crushed
- 2 TBS chopped sage
- 1 apple, peeled and chopped
- 1 pound (500g) all butter puff pastry
- 1 free range egg beaten together wih 1 tsp water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220*C/425*F/ gas mark 7. Line several baking trays with baking paper.
- Remove the sausage meat from the skins and crumble into a bowl. Add the chopped sage, garlic and chopped apple. Mix well together.
- Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to a large rectangle. 12 inches wide at the shortest edge. Halve the pastry to make two long thin sheets. Divide the sausage meat down the centre of each, leaving a good border on both sides.
- Beat the egg together with the water. Brush some of this down both long edges of each pastry strip. Fold over the edges to cover the sausage meat, making two long rolls. Seal the edges with a fork.
- Flip over and place pastry seam side down on the baking sheets. Brush more egg wash over top. Cut each roll into six equal pieces. Snip each in a few places and spread them apart on the baking sheets to leave room to rise.
- Cook for 25 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
One thing I will miss about the UK are the lovely sausages they have over here. There are about as many varieties of sausage as there are areas and counties.
Nevermind, they have good ones in Canada as well! There will always be things we miss about the places we have lived.
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com Thanks so much for visiting. Do come again!
I grew up with sausage rolls like these ones and have always really loved them. It's something I miss very much as here they don't have them, nor do they have sausage meat or even sausages. Their "sausages" are all like differently flavoured hot dogs. I never buy them as I don't like heavily processed food.
ReplyDeletePork, apple and sage is a classic and delicious combination. I can imagine that your neighbours were delighted to get them as they sounds so good. I'd never really thought to make my own sausage filling, but I might try it and introduce my husband to one of my childhood favourites.
Ohh, ewww I don't mind a hot dog now and then (as you know) but it has to be a good one. I really do hope you will try making your own sausage meat. You don't need skins, just shape it into patties and cook it that way, tres delicious! I am excited that you will try and hope that you husband embraces this new flavour! xoxo
DeleteI really enjoy reading your posts and trying out many of the recipes. The sausage rolls sound great.
ReplyDeleteBut wait; are you moving back to Canada?! If so, I wish you well and hope you continue to blog.
I am Pat and I will blog so long as I am capable. I love it too much! Thank you! The sausage rolls are lovely! xoxo
DeleteThese sound so good!! I have Joy's recipe and I use it when I make sausage rolls, but will definitely give these a try. I sometimes use maple sausage when I make Joy's recipe. We really enjoy those, I serve them with a sweet hot mustard.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Joy's recipe the best. Have you made her Samosas? They are wonderful. We had them at their house and she sent us home with the leftovers! Then when she and Simon would come to visit she would bring some with her. Seriously yummy! You version sounds nice! Looking forward to Maple sausage again! xoxo
DeleteThese sausage rolls are similar to the sausage rolls made by the Czech bakeries in West, Texas where my husband grew up. I stopped by the bakery each morning for our daughters to get a pastry & our oldest daughter always chose the sausage rolls. I liked them too but could not resist the apricot & cheese kolaches. Our youngest daughter always chose the pecan rolls. I miss living in West where there are four Czech bakeries.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely Linda. I loved living out West and the Czech, Hungarian and Polish food that was avaiable there. So delicious! xoxo
DeleteAfter I posted my comment I remembered that you had hinted recently about seeing your family.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting!! Moving can be a great experience, especially when moving closer to grandchildren. I guess you will have some serious "decluttering" to do in order to move your household overseas. You might find some very interesting things at the back of closets.
I have much to do and many steps to take. But in the end it will be well worth it. New adventures to come! xoxo
DeleteWe adore homemade sausage rolls, a definite Christmas season treat , my recipe is very similar , good sausage meat, grated onion and sage , and home made rough puff pastry . I have to hide them in the freezer , or else they’ll get eaten very very quickly . I didn’t realise you’re going back to Canada, you’ll be missed, I love your blog xx
ReplyDeleteI can imagine. NO worries about the blog. I will be keeping it up from the other side of the pond! Many new adventures to come! xoxo
DeleteThese look tasty and pretty delicious. And not as hard as I thought they might be when I saw the title of the post and first photo. They would be so awfully good in the fall, wouldn't they?
ReplyDeleteThey are very good Jeanie! And yes this is the perfect time of year!! xoxo
DeleteHi Laurie, so nice to see a comment from you! I hope you and Gary are also well! These sausage rolls are wonderful. xoxo
ReplyDelete