Caramelised Onion and Beef Sausage Rolls

This isn't your average sausage roll you buy in the freezer aisle and chuck in the freezer-these are jazzed up with sweet, caramelised onion, which is a match made in heaven with beef.

These ones are smaller than normal sausage rolls, but I think it's better, because it takes them less time to bake (and they're much cuter!). Little tip with sausage rolls; give them a reallyyyy good mix once everything has been added- squelch, knead and punch that mixture for a good few minutes, so that the ingredients all mingle with each other and stick together better.

Recipe- Makes around 30 small sausage rolls

Ingredients

1 large brown onion, finely diced

25g butter (a small knob)

500g beef sausage mince (or just beef mince)

1 carrot, finely grated

2 tbs fresh thyme

50g breadcrumbs

1/4 tsp chilli powder

pinch of cayenne pepper

1 tbs plain flour

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion flakes

salt and pepper

3 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg, whisked

sesame seeds or poppy seeds, to sprinkle

Preheat oven to 200°C, or 390°F. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper

Place the diced onion and butter in a small saucepan, and cook over low heat for around 20 minutes, or until deeply caramelised and sweet-smelling. Leave to cool slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, add the mince, grated carrot, thyme, breadcrumbs, chilli, cayenne, garlic powder, onion flakes and caramelised onion. Stir to incorporate, then season with salt and pepper. Mix for another few minutes.

Cut each pastry sheet in half. Spoon some of the mixture down the length of the rectangles, and form them into long sausages on each piece of pastry. Using a pastry brush, brush one long side of each pastry rectangle with egg. Starting at the non-egg side of the rectangle, roll into a cylinder. Using a fork, prick holes along the top of the sausage roll, at 3-4 cm intervals. Cut into small squares with a sharp knife, and place on prepared tray.

Brush sausage rolls with egg, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Leave to cool on trays, or serve hot.

DIFFICULTY	INGREDIENTS	PREP TIME	COOK TIME
Easy	15	20 minutes	30-35 minutes