Nordic Spiced Beef Sausage Rolls
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for more information.
This delicious Scandinavian inspired ground beef appetizer is a hearty and flavorful dish perfect for cozy winter evenings. These tender Nordic Spiced Beef Sausage Rolls are made with ground beef mixed with a fragrant filling of spices, breadcrumbs, and onions, and wrapped in puff pastry. A mixture of Nordic and English culinary traditions, this recipe makes a delicious winter appetizer or a comforting weeknight meal.
Traditional Nordic Spices:
In Nordic countries, simple ingredients and warm spices have long been staples of winter cooking. This dish combines those flavors with a classic English sausage roll, blending the natural flavors of beef with a medley of aromatic spices like coriander, fennel, paprika, and garlic. Served alongside hearty sides such as potatoes or root vegetables, these rolls symbolize the warmth and sustenance that Scandinavian cuisine is known for. Historically, dishes like these were prepared to make the most of preserved or cured ingredients during long winters, turning them into comforting family meals.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Rich and Hearty: Perfect for cold days when you crave warmth and sustenance. These beef rolls are flavorful, spicy, and oh so buttery!
Authentically Nordic: A dish inspired by traditional Nordic flavors, these beef rolls combine classic Nordic flavors like coriander and fennel with an English tea time staple of sausage wrapped in buttery pastry.
Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare in advance for stress-free entertaining. These sausage rolls can be prepared, either uncooked or fully cooked and reheated before guests arrive.
A Quick Feast. These sausage rolls are super easy to make, especially if you decide to prepare them ahead of time! They bake up in about 20 to 25 minutes, making them the perfect winter starter.
Gathering Ingredients:
Puff Pastry. To make this recipe, you will need 2 sheets of frozen puff pastry, or you can use homemade puff pastry. I have an easy homemade puff pastry recipe in my cookbook!
Butter.
Onion.
Celery.
Ground Beef. I suggest using 80/20 ground beef for this recipe to help create a juicy, tender sausage that is not too dry!
Light Beer. You can use any beer that you prefer. To keep the flavor mild, I suggest using a light beer. If you want to avoid using beer, you can use apple cider or apple juice in its place.
Mayonnaise. This helps add some moisture to the sausage!
Spices. For this recipe, you will need salt, coriander, garlic powder, fennel seeds, paprika, pepper, and nutmeg.
Eggs.
Sesame Seeds. You can omit the sesame seed topping if you prefer.
How to Make Beef Sausage Rolls:
Step One: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry to a 12 x 20-inch (30 x 50-cm) rectangle, if it is not already at that size. Cut the pastry into 3 strips, 4 x 20-inches (10 x 50-cm) long. Place the pastry on one of the prepared baking sheets and chill until ready to use.
Step Two: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Cook the onion and celery until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.
Step Three: In a large bowl, mix together the cooked onion, celery, ground beef, breadcrumbs, beer, mayonnaise, salt, coriander, garlic powder, fennel, paprika, pepper, nutmeg, and one of the eggs. Mix with a wooden spoon or your hands until the sausage is well blended, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Step Four: In a small bowl, lightly beat the remaining egg with a splash of water to make an egg wash. Set this aside for now.
Step Five: Separate the beef sausage into 6 equal pieces. On a piece of parchment paper or a cutting board, roll them into large logs, about 10-inches (25-cm) long. Remove the baking sheet with the puff pastry from the refrigerator. Lay the sausage down the center of each pastry, using 2 sausage logs for each piece of pastry.
Step Six: Bring the edges of the pastry together to conceal the sausage and pinch the seam closed. If the seam is not sticking, use a bit of egg wash to help them bind together. Flip the sausage roll over so that the seam is on the bottom. Poke every couple of inches along the top of the pastry with the tines of fork to make holes for air to escape while baking. Brush all along the length of each pastry with the egg wash. Then, with a sharp knife, slice each roll into 3-inch (8-cm) pieces. Arrange the pieces about 2-inches (5-cm) apart from each other. Sprinkle the tops of the rolls with the sesame seeds.
Step Seven: Bake the sausage rolls for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the pastry is a deep golden brown and the sausage is fully cooked, or reaches an internal temperature of 165° F (74° C). Serve the rolls hot or warm, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days. They can also be frozen and reheated to enjoy later!
Tips for Making Perfect Sausage Rolls:
Keep it Cold. For the best results when working with puff pastry, make sure to keep the pastry as cold as possible. It can be helpful to have your sausage cold, too, before building the pastries. If you have the time, you can blend the sausage ingredients together ahead of time, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 24 to 48 hours. Then, continue the recipe as normal!
Make It Ahead. If you are wanting to save some time when preparing this dish for guests, it can be made ahead of time. This dish can be made ahead with the parts kept separately, such as the sausage and pastry. It can also be made ahead with the sausage rolls completely built but not yet cooked. Simply cut the rolls and cover with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container and store for about 24 to 48 hours before baking.
Reheat for Later. If you decide to fully bake your rolls, they can be reheated in the oven. Arrange the rolls in an oven safe baking dish and cover the dish with foil. Bake them in a 350° F (177° C) oven for about 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.
Serving Suggestions:
For a truly Nordic appetizer spread, pair these beef rolls with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, or buttered egg noodles. A side of lingonberry jam adds a traditional Scandinavian touch, balancing the savory flavors with a hint of sweetness!
Similar Recipes:
Final Thoughts:
These Nordic Spiced Beef Sausage Rolls bring the warmth and comfort of Scandinavian comfort food to your table. Whether you’re enjoying them on a quiet winter evening or as part of a festive holiday spread, these rolls are sure to impress with their spicy sausage filling and buttery flaky pastry. These are the perfect ground beef appetizer to make for a hygge inspired meal!
xoxo Kayla
Nordic Spiced Beef Sausage Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 tbsp (14.5 g) salted butter
- 1 small onion, minced finely
- 2 large stalks celery, minced finely
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 cup (150 g) breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) light beer, any kind
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp fennel seed
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs, divided
- 2 tbsp (8 g) sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425° F (218° C) and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set these aside for now.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry to a 12 x 20-inch (30 x 50-cm) rectangle, if it is not already at that size. Cut the pastry into 3 strips, 4 x 20-inches (10 x 50-cm) long. Place the pastry on one of the prepared baking sheets and chill until ready to use.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Cook the onion and celery until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cooked onion, celery, ground beef, breadcrumbs, beer, mayonnaise, salt, coriander, garlic powder, fennel, paprika, pepper, nutmeg, and one of the eggs. Mix with a wooden spoon or your hands until the sausage is well blended, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- In a small bowl, lightly beat the remaining egg with a splash of water to make an egg wash. Set this aside for now.
- Separate the beef sausage into 6 equal pieces. On a piece of parchment paper or a cutting board, roll them into large logs, about 10-inches (25-cm) long. Remove the baking sheet with the puff pastry from the refrigerator. Lay the sausage down the center of each pastry, using 2 sausage logs for each piece of pastry.
- Bring the edges of the pastry together to conceal the sausage and pinch the seam closed. If the seam is not sticking, use a bit of egg wash to help them bind together. Flip the sausage roll over so that the seam is on the bottom. Poke every couple of inches along the top of the pastry with the tines of fork to make holes for air to escape while baking. Brush all along the length of each pastry with the egg wash. Then, with a sharp knife, slice each roll into 3-inch (8-cm) pieces. Arrange the pieces about 2-inches (5-cm) apart from each other. Sprinkle the tops of the rolls with the sesame seeds.
- Bake the sausage rolls for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the pastry is a deep golden brown and the sausage is fully cooked, or reaches an internal temperature of 165° F (74° C). Serve the rolls hot or warm, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days. They can also be frozen and reheated to enjoy later!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
267Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
