Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls

Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls

We love to entertain. We have friends over a lot and we are always coming up with new recipes to share with them. This holiday season, we are cooking with Johnsonville Sausage and using one of my favorite baking ingredients, puff pastry. Johnsonville Summer Sausage is the perfect way to make something even more amazing. We used to make this recipe with ham but sausage and peppers taste so much better together. Sausage is so easy to cook with and such a time saver around the holidays. Not only does it boost the flavor in one of our favorite recipes, but it saves on party prep time because you just simply slice and go. We hope that this Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls recipe post inspires you. 

Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls

Ingredients for the Peppers

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 each red and yellow bell pepper, sliced thin
• 1/2 sweet onion, sliced thin
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced thin
• 1 Roma tomato, chopped
• 5-6 basil leaves, roughly chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients for the Puffs

• Johnsonville Summer Sausage sliced 1/4 inch thick
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Peppers from above
• Grated Parmesan
• extra virgin olive oil
• Black Pepper
• 2 sheets of puff pastry
• Sesame seeds

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. Heat the olive oil over a medium flame. Add the peppers, onions, and garlic. Saute until the onions begin to soften. Add the tomatoes, and continue to saute until the tomato breaks down and begins to coat the pepper and onions.
3. Remove from the flame. Stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper. Cool.
4. Roll out one dough sheet to the size of a sheet pan. Place 12 small pieces of cheese on the dough, evenly spaced. Place the Johnsonville Summer Sausage on top of the cheese, and then top with a little of the pepper mixture.
5. Roll out the second dough sheet and cover the sausage stacks. Cut each sausage puff out with a pizza cutter and remove the excess dough. Roll the dough together for each puff. Brush with olive oil, and then top with a sprinkling of sesame seeds.
6. Bake for 10 minutes.
7. Cool for 5 minutes. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce. 

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Why are Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls so Popular?

There are many reasons why Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls enjoy such widespread popularity.

Delicious Combination

• Satisfying savory: The savory sausage filling is packed with flavor and protein, providing a satisfying bite.
• Flaky and buttery: The puff pastry creates a delightful contrast in texture, offering a flaky, buttery exterior that contrasts the meaty interior.
• Sweet and savory balance: Glaze or egg wash applied to the pastry often adds a touch of sweetness to balance the savory filling.

Convenience and Versatility

• Portable and easy to eat: Sausage rolls are perfect for on-the-go snacking or quick meals, requiring no utensils.
• Hot or cold: They can be enjoyed hot from the oven or at room temperature, making them suitable for various occasions.
• Variety of fillings: Sausage rolls come in various flavors, with different sausage types, herbs, spices, and even vegetarian options available.

Affordability and Accessibility

• Relatively inexpensive: They are generally considered an affordable snack or meal option.
• Widely available: Found in bakeries, supermarkets, and even gas stations, making them readily accessible.

Cultural Significance

• Nostalgic appeal: For many, particularly in the UK and Commonwealth countries, sausage rolls evoke childhood memories and cultural significance.
• British staple: In the UK, they are considered a classic savory snack and a staple in many bakeries.
• Comfort food: The simple yet satisfying flavor and familiar presentation provide a sense of comfort and familiarity.

Social Media Influence

• Greggs effect: The popularity of sausage rolls in the UK has been further boosted by the “Greggs effect,” where photos of their signature sausage rolls go viral on social media, amplifying their appeal.
• Food trends: Social media trends like “fancy sausage rolls” and “sausage roll challenges” have played a role in keeping them relevant and engaging.
• Instagrammable: Their golden brown, flaky appearance, and vibrant fillings make them visually appealing, adding to their social media popularity.

History of the Sausage Roll

• Ancient Inspiration: The concept of wrapping meat in dough can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. Early examples used pastry to encase various fillings, paving the way for future culinary creations.
• 19th Century Rise: The modern sausage roll likely emerged in 19th-century France. Flaky pastry, inspired by the Austrian croissant, and pork sausage fillings gained popularity. Sausage rolls arrived in London, becoming a cheap and popular street food during the Napoleonic Wars. This association with British culture began to solidify. A 1809 newspaper article references a vendor selling “sausage rolls” in England, highlighting its growing presence.
• Evolution and Expansion: Sausage rolls were mass-produced, with some instances of using creative methods (like red ochre) to disguise cheaper fillings. The shortcrust pastry was initially used, but all-butter puff pastry eventually became the preferred choice, adding the signature flakiness. Sausage rolls found their way to former British colonies and other countries, gaining different interpretations and variations.
• Present Day: Sausage rolls remain a quintessential British snack, widely enjoyed at picnics, and sporting events, and as a convenient, delicious treat. New versions with gourmet fillings and vegetarian options have emerged, catering to contemporary preferences.

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Facts About the Sausage Roll

• The exact date and location of the first “true” sausage roll remain unknown.
• National Sausage Roll Day: Celebrated on June 5th in some countries, showcasing the enduring love for this savory pastry.
• Million Dollar Sales: Millions of sausage rolls are sold in the UK annually, highlighting their commercial success.
• Early versions used shortcrust pastry instead of puff pastry.
• Early mentions: The first documented mention of a sausage roll in Britain dates back to 1692, with a recipe for “puff paist.”
• Victorian era: An 1894 theft case revealed practices of using red ochre to give plain meat a more appealing sausage-like appearance.

What We Love About  Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls

• Easy to make at home: With readily available ingredients and simple preparation, they can be easily made at home for a personalized touch.
• Visually appealing: The golden brown pastry and sausage filling create an appetizing appearance.
• Adaptable to different occasions: From picnics to parties, sausage rolls can be enjoyed in various settings.

Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls combine delicious flavors, convenience, affordability, and cultural significance, making them a beloved snack enjoyed by people across generations and cultures. Puff pastry sausage rolls offer a combination of satisfying taste, affordability, convenience, and cultural significance, making them a popular choice for people of all ages and backgrounds. The sausage roll's journey from humble beginnings to widespread popularity reflects its ability to satisfy taste buds and hold cultural significance across generations. We hope that this Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls recipe post inspires you. Happy cooking!

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