Homemade Scottish Sausage Rolls…Great for a Snack or a Meal
Scottish sausage rolls are perfect for breakfast, appetizers, snacks, lunch or dinner, and are super easy to make!
This recipe was originally published on January 24, 2012.
You know that I often post recipes for foods which I miss from Scotland. Well, here’s another one–Scottish sausage rolls!
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Whether eaten alone, as an appetizer, as a quick snack (with HP Sauce, of course), or served with mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy, as a meal: sausage rolls always satisfy. With a crisp and flaky puff pastry on the outside, and deliciously seasoned sausage inside, it’s not difficult to understand why these are so delectable.
Love all things British? Try a traditional toad in the hole!
Don’t be intimidated; they’re easy to make and taste as good as the sausage rolls back home in Scotland. I do hope you try them as I think you’ll love them! Don’t buy packaged sausage meat as this recipe is so much better and tastes more like the real deal from Scotland.
Sausage rolls and Scotch eggs are both delicious pub food offerings!
How are Scottish Sausage Rolls different from English Sausage Rolls?
Normally, sausage rolls in England are made with pork. However, in Scotland, beef is traditionally used, also. If you are hesitant to try this recipe (as I was, initially) have no fear, they are truly delicious! This recipe was given to me by an elderly Scottish lady who was a friend of the family.
How to Make Homemade Scottish Sausage Rolls
Recipe from an old Scottish friend makes 9 large, or 18 small sausage rolls
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- puff pastry
- ground beef (you can still use pork or a mixture of beef and pork, or even turkey)
- salt
- black pepper
- coriander
- nutmeg
- breadcrumbs (see my prior post on how to make your own– see notes)
- egg
Oven temperature 400º F (200º C)
Step-by-Step Directions
Make the Sausage Meat
In a large bowl, mix together the salt with all the spices and breadcrumbs.
Add the ground beef, and about 1/2 cup of water. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together until it has a meatloaf texture, adding water as needed. The sausage should hold together when squeezed, without being too wet.
Prepare the Sausage Rolls
Next, place the puff pastry on a clean counter, mat or board and cut into rectangular(ish) pieces, they don’t need to be exact, depending on the size of the rolls you want to make; from cocktail size to “man” size. Alternatively, you can make a long roll, and cut into the size desired.
Shape some meat into logs, and place close to one end of the pastry, but don’t put too much meat or they will burst open when baking.
With your finger, lightly dampen one of the edges with a little water, seal shut, then crimp with a fork, as shown .
Place on a lined (silicone sheet, aluminum foil or parchment paper) edged baking tray. Make three or four small cuts in the top of the pastry, and brush with a little beaten egg white.
TIP: if serving as appetizers, just make them smaller or cut into bite sized pieces before baking.
Bake the Sausage Rolls
Finally, bake sausage rolls in preheated 400º F (200º C) oven for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Can I freeze Sausage Rolls?
YES! These sausage rolls freeze really well and are a great party food! Here’s what I do: bake them as directed below, but take them out of the oven about 5 to 7 minutes early so they’re not as golden brown as you would want them. Cool completely, then freeze.
How do I Reheat Frozen Sausage Rolls?
To serve your frozen Scottish sausage rolls, defrost them in the refrigerator beforehand. When you want to heat them, take them from the refrigerator and place on a baking sheet for at least half an hour or bring to room temperature. Place in preheated oven at 375º F (190º C) for 10 to 15 minutes or until hot and golden brown.
Scottish sausage rolls are wonderful served hot, right out of the oven, with HP Sauce. Incidentally, isn’t your mouth watering already? These black pudding Scotch eggs are another delicious British pub food creation!
What to Serve with this Recipe
Although sausage rolls can be served on their own, they are great when accompanied by any mix or combination of the following:
- mashed potatoes
- Heinz Beans
- peas
- chips (French fries)
- baked potato
- boiled potatoes
You may also enjoy this Scottish recipe for Lorne Sausage (or square sausage)
Homemade Scottish Sausage Rolls
Ingredients
- 18 oz puff pastry (easiest is buying a package like Trader Joe's)
- 1 lb ground beef (you can still use pork or a mixture of beef and pork or even turkey)
- 1 cup water or less
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- ¾ tsp coriander (dried, ground do not use fresh cilantro)
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 egg white (slightly beaten)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F (200C)
- In a large bowl, mix together the salt with all the spices and breadcrumbs.
- Add the ground beef, and about 1/2 cup of water. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together until it has a meatloaf texture, adding water as needed. The sausage should hold together when squeezed, without being too wet.
- Place the puff pastry on a clean counter, mat or board. Cut into rectangular(ish) pieces, they don’t need to be exact, depending on the size of the rolls you want to make; from cocktail size to “man” size. Alternatively, you can make a long roll and then cut them into the size you desire.
- Shape some meat into logs, and place close to one end of the pastry, but don’t put too much meat or they will burst open when baking.
- With your finger, lightly dampen one of the edges with a little water, seal shut, then crimp with a fork, as shown.
- Place on a lined (Silpat, aluminum foil or parchment) edged baking tray, make three or four small cuts in the top of the pastry, and brush with a little beaten egg white.
- Bake sausage rolls in preheated 400º F oven for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve with brown sauce (HP Sauce is my preference).
Notes
- These sausage rolls freeze really well and are a great party food!
- Here's what I do: bake them as directed, but take them out of the oven about 5 to 7 minutes early so they're not as golden brown as you would want them. Cool completely, then freeze.
- To serve your frozen Scottish sausage rolls, defrost them in the refrigerator beforehand.
- When you want to heat them, take them from the refrigerator and place on a baking sheet for at least half an hour or bring to room temperature.
- Place in preheated oven at 375º F (190º C) for 10 to 15 minutes or until hot and golden brown.
Nutrition
Another Scottish recipe using ground beef (mince) and puff pastry from my Scottish pal, Janice!
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Sorry, but it is not clear to me from the recipe but when using the phyllo dough how many sheets are you talking about from each roll. Do you just open the whole roll after taking it out of the box and cut into rectangles?
Hi Kathy, you must have misread the ingredients as it’s not phyllo dough, but puff pastry dough that is used for sausage rolls. I’m afraid phyllo dough is completely different and will not work for these. Let me know if that helps. :) Christina
Made Mine tonight. They were terrific! Thanks for the recipe!
Fantastic, thank you for letting me know, Sara! CC
My teenaged daughter is quite the baker and chef. She made these for our family and they were quite a hit. The seasoning is different than my Nana used during my childhood but i enjoyed them nonetheless. Thank you!
That’s fantastic, Denine! I just had an 11 year old boy leave a comment on this recipe yesterday, also! Love it when children cook, in my opinion, it doesn’t happen nearly as much as it should. Thanks for letting me know! CC
I’ve made these once but I liked them so I am cooking them for me and my Dad!!!
Thanks for the recipe
RD, Age 11
Good for you, RD!!! I love to hear that! keep on cooking! ??
I wanted to let you know that I made your sausage rolls and they turned out wonderfully. My husband is English and his mother used to make them. Unfortunately she passed away before I ever had a chance to sample them and my feeble attempts to try and make something that resembled his descriptions were not successful. I found your recipe on Pinterest and thought I’d try once more. Happily my husband said that your sausage rolls are exactly what he remembered. Your descriptions/ instructions and photos were all very helpful. Thank you for your post.
Awww, Betty! I’m so glad that you were able to make these for your husband and that they met his expectations!
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your comment! It truly made my day! Thank you, and I hope you find more British recipes on my site that you and your husband will enjoy! :) Christina
Hi Christina, these looks perfect! I am preparing for an afternoon tea in 5 days. Can I prep these, freeze them and then bake? Or do I bake them, freeze them and reheat? Or are they best prepared on the same day?
Hi Ninke, if you’d like to make them ahead of time, I’d bake under bake them, freeze them, then bring to room temperature and pop them in the oven for 10 minutes to finish them off. They’ll taste the same as if you made them that day. Just be sure not to under bake them too much or the pastry won’t puff and the meat will be raw. The goal is to cook them, but not brown them the whole way. I hope that helps! Enjoy!
Thank you Christina, that helps allot!
Ah so the Scots eat theirs with brown sauce, I eat mine with loads of Colemans English Mustard.
Hey Christina! Can I use readymade Panko in place of breadcrumbs?
YES! Just make sure it gets softened with the water. Enjoy, Anna!