25 October 2012

Sausage Pinwheels - A Delightful Savory for Cocktails or Teatime

As you know, one of the most delightful repasts for me is a traditional British-style afternoon tea. A beautiful table laden with sandwiches, savories, scones, pastries and a big pot of properly made black tea is truly comfort food to those of us who have developed the habit. I made these for an afternoon tea party last week, and they were a hit!

These savory spirals are also a perfect little cocktail bite to go with your preprandial beverage of choice. Made with frozen puff pastry (homemade or storebought), they're quick and easy to put together. I wasn't able to find any sausage that day that met my requirements (ethically, humanely, sustainably produced pastured pork), but I found pork shoulder that did. So I bought a pound of it and made my own homemade sausage. Made it a little spicy since each pinwheel has just a couple teaspoons of sausage.

If you're using a sausage you haven't tried before, be sure to cook up a bite of it to see how it tastes. Then season it to suit yourself before proceeding with the recipe. What kind of sausage do you like? Mild or spicy? In casings or not? Pork, poultry, game?  


Sausage Pinwheels


(Makes 24)

1/2 pound bulk sausage, cooked and cooled
1 sheet (1/2 package) frozen puff pastry
1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water

1 In small skillet cook sausage, breaking it into small pieces, until browned. Drain any excess fat on paper towels. Set aside to cool. While sausage is cooling, thaw pastry at room temperature for 40 minutes.

2 On very lightly floured 12x12-inch square of foil, roll out the 10x10-inch square of pastry to 10x12-inch square. With long side toward you, sprinkle Parmesan evenly over pastry, leaving a 1-inch border on the long edge farthest from you. Repeat with the cooled sausage

3 Roll evenly toward the clean edge, wet that edge lightly with water and seal the roll. Wrap it in the square of foil. Place in freezer for 45 minutes before slicing. If you're as persnickety as I am and want to ensure perfectly round slices, split an empty paper towel roll and place your wrapped pastry roll in it, holding it closed with a couple of rubber bands or pieces of kitchen string.

4 Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet (I use an 18x13x1-inch heavy-duty half-sheet pan) with parchment paper. Whisk together egg and water. Cut the partially frozen roll into 24 1/2-inch slices. Place slices about an inch apart on prepared baking sheet; brush with egg mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Can be reheated at 300 degrees for about 5 minutes just before serving.

Note: Another cocktail or teatime savory made with puff pastry is this Tomato Tart. 

42 comments:

Cranberry Morning said...

They look beautiful and delicious! I am sure that Lady Cora and the Dowager Countess would enjoy them as well!

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Here I am at the end of the day, hungry looking at those sausage pinwheels. Yummmmm! As always you make everything look like just the thing you want to stick in your mouth....and not stop!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Judy, wouldn't we love having tea with those two! Wonder if the Dowager Countess would give my tea table that look of hers - you know the one that looks like she's smelling something really vile!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Susan! I'm afraid I'd be inclined to eat too many of them myself just now. (I do love the way you put things!)

Just a Smidgen said...

Very cool idea to make your own sausage for these. I love puff pastry for its ease of use.. and flavor! These are so cute!

Julia | JuliasAlbum.com said...

These pinwheels look so beautiful! I usually see these as desserts, which is what I thought when I first saw this photo on Food Gawker. Pinwheels with sausage? Savory is even better!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Smidgen, thanks! Now that I've tried it, I may never buy ready-made sausage again.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Julia. I agree - savory is even better!

HB said...

Aren't these usually made with cinnamon?
Replacing it with sausage is absolutely delicious!

All your recipes are so so scrumptious.

Hamilton x

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Hamilton, thank you so much! Cinnamon is good too, but I needed another savory for my teatable the day I came up with these.

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

High marks for visuals. High marks for home-made sausage. High marks for cheese. But since I treat most bread as a surrogate delivery system – aka plate, platter, utensil – this is the kind of thing I would eat off the pastry rather than with the pastry. I am, however, most intrigued by your sausage making. Definitely no eyeballs, lips and ears in your choice of cut. How much fat and how much lean? What kind of grinder do you use? And, of course, the all-important spices – do you use Sage? Maybe you could do an article on this!?!

HB said...

Jean, this is going to sound somewhat air headed, but how exactly do I follow your blog?

Like, I don't really know what google friend connect is?

Do you have a follow button?

Haha x

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Sully! And I will do a post about homemade sausage one day. Good suggestion! If you come for dinner, I won't make you eat sausage pinwheels, pastry and all, but will happily make you your very own sausage patties.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Hamilton, not airheaded at all. Good question. Do these two things: 1. Under "Followers" in side bar, click on "Join this site." And 2. Below that, under "Follow me by email," enter your email address and hit "submit." Do those two things, then report back to me how it went!

Sippity Sup said...

Elegant and simple. Inspires me to have a cocktail party.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Greg! I make all too many foods that take a lot of time - am only too happy to have a few favorites that come together quickly.

Yenta Mary said...

Afternoon tea is a beautiful thing! A bit of respite at the perfect time, with lovely little tidbits to enjoy ... :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Mary. I think it's especially enjoyable when the weather starts getting cooler.

Ruth Schiffmann said...

What kind of sausage do I like? I have never cared much for Italian sausage. My husband likes bratwurst and I prefer Portuguese sausage (linguicia.) But since these have only a small amount of sausage, I might like them. They look like something that would be fun (and easy) to make so I think I'll give them a try.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Ruth, they really are easy. And even my husband, who is not a sausage fan nor even a person who likes hors d'oeuvre type things, loved these and wants to have them again soon.

Unknown said...

These look delightful---love the idea of homemade sausage. a fav of mine along with spinach/cheese filling too!!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Malli, thanks! And, ooh, spinach would be good too. And very pretty.

Unknown said...

Oooh.. I love making pinwheels like this. And the possibilities of fillings are endless! These look absolutely amazing, Jean!!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Jenn! Everything just looks more festive in a pinwheel!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Carole!

Carole said...

Thanks for linking this super sausage post in to Food on Friday. I am now signed up to follow you. A follow back to Carole's Chatter would be wonderful – or are you already following? Cheers

Unknown said...

These look to pretty. I love how easy they sound too. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I found your blog from your link on Food On Friday's on Carole's Chatter.
Nice to meet you. Your blog is great!!!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks so much, Renee! I hope you'll try them soon.

Abigail Rogers said...

This one's definitely going on Pinterest!

-Abigail
www.PictureBritain.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks so much, Abby! And let me know how these pinwheels turn out for you.

Kay Bischoff said...

What a wonderful idea. I think I will try with a locally made sausage that has sage and rosemary in it. Love your blog!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Kay, thank you! It's one of those things that is so easy but always immpresses guests!

Beth in NEPA said...

This is a recipe I MUST try. Last week I made something called Sausage cheese puffs which is similar but these look great too. We love sausage at our house and in the past even created our own. Check out my blog for my recipe a week ago.
http://agardenersart.blogspot.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Beth! I like to make my own sausage so that it's seasoned exactly to my liking. Also check out my Sausage Rolls.

Bernideen said...

Those turned out wonderful and what a great savory for Afternoon Tea!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Bernideen! Means a lot coming from you. Would love to have tea at your beautifully set tea table!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Oh, these look good. My hubby would love them and what a wonderful savory for afternoon tea. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

Blessings,
Sandi

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sandi, thank you! I hope you'll make a batch for him soon and let me know how they came out.

Louca por porcelana said...

They look delicious!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Maristella. Guests always love them!

Bernideen said...

Those look delicious Jean! I would love them with a bowl of soup! Merry Christmas and thanks for faithfully participating in my blog party.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

My pleasure, Bernideen! And what a great idea - I've never thought of having these with soup, but YEAH!