Leftover Bolognese Sausage Rolls with Puff Pastry

 Use that leftover bolognese to make these delicious puff pastry sausage rolls and cook them in the oven or the air fryer until crispy and golden.

Leftover Bolognese Sausage Rolls with Puff Pastry

If you're anything like me, you always make a big batch when you are making bolognese.

Instead of making a second batch of spaghetti bolognese on night two, why not make these leftover bolognese sausage rolls which are made with puff pastry?

They are absolutely divine straight out of the oven all crispy and golden.

If you need a good veggie bolognese, try my easy bolognese recipe which I've been making for decades, based on a recipe my mother-in-law passed to me.

2024 UPDATE 

Shrinkflation has hit. Ready rolled puff pastry used to be a standard 375g across big brands and supermarket own brands.

It's now shrunk to 320g (Jusrol, Tesco & Asda, maybe other supermarkets too) which can make a big difference (you end up with too much filling).

So be aware you may need extra pastry or you will have leftover filling (don't try and add it all to these smaller sheets of pastry).

Puff Pastry

I learned to make puff pastry at school, but life is too short and shop-bought puff pastry is really good quality, so use that.

Ready rolled is super convenient as it is beautifully even and ready to use, so I tend to use that, but you do get a better rise on a rolled-out block of puff pastry.

You decide!

For more delicious puff pastry recipes, check out 50 BEST Plant-Based Puff Pastry Recipes for Vegans.

Adding cheese

Usually, I will add a layer of cheese to these quick sausage rolls, but this time I left it out.

You can either mix the cheese into the leftover bolognese sauce or add the bolognese sausage filling to the pastry then top with some grated cheese.

Cheddar (regular or vegan) is a good option to add as it melts well and gives a good flavour.

If you're looking for a pretty decent vegan cheddar, try the new Cathedral City plant-based cheese.

Of course, there are lots of other brands out there, so use your favourite cheddar.

What you need to make these easy sausage rolls

Here are the simple ingredients you need to make these awesome veggie sausage rolls.

I make vegan sausage rolls, but you can use your regular bolognese recipe, which is the only difference.

• Puff pastry - ready rolled or a block rolled out
• Bolognese - try my veggie bolognese
• Oats - porridge oats (rolled oats)
• Dried oregano
• Dried parsley
• Chilli flakes - add more if you want them spicy
• Salt & pepper
• Sesame seeds

If you're looking for more leftover bolognese recipes, try bolognese potato bake which is a very comforting meal, or leftover bolognese quesadillas, which are great for a delicious lunch or light dinner.

If you're serving them for dinner, why not serve them with potato wedges and mini corn cobs?

Also, if you love homemade sausage rolls, try my red lentil sausage rolls.

I'm sure I'll come up with more leftover bolognese ideas soon, so do bookmark tinnedtomatoes.com on your phone or PC.

Variations to this easy sausage roll recipe

Here are a few ideas for tweaking this recipe.

1. Cheese - add grated vegan cheddar to the mixture or as a layer on top
2. Chilli - add more chilli flakes to the mix for a bit of heat, I only added enough for warmth
3. Hot sauce - add hot sauce to the mixture to spice it up
4. Spinach - add a layer of spinach before adding the bolognese

Also, try these easy hidden veg sausage rolls.

Get that golden finish

The golden finish on sausage rolls is usually achieved by brushing them with an egg wash before baking, but there are other options.

I brush them with some olive oil, but you can also brush the pastry with milk. 

Just whatever you usually have in the fridge. For us, it's oat milk.

Add those seeds

Finishing sausage rolls with a scattering of seeds gives them a nice professional look, plus seeds are good for you.

You can add sesame seeds, flax seeds, mustard seeds or poppy seeds.

Just brush the pastry with oil or milk, then scatter the seeds across the tops and bake until golden and crispy.

Air fryer or oven?

With the price of gas and electricity going up and up, how you cook is definitely a consideration.

This leftover bolognese recipe can be baked in the oven or air fryer.

They bake quicker in an air fryer and it's less expensive to run, although saying that, these only take between 20-25 minutes to bake, so it's not too bad.

You can always roast a tray of veg on another shelf at the same time to save energy.

How much cheaper is an air fryer?

If you're thinking of getting an air fryer, I can only say I love mine. I have a Tower 5-1 air fryer with shelves and use it nearly every day.

So, how do you calculate how much an air fryer costs compared to an oven.

Air fryer's vary in wattage, but always use significantly less power than an oven.

Here's how you work out the energy used.

1. Start with the wattage of the air fryer or oven and multiply that by the hours you use it in a day. Divide that number by 1,000 and now you have the daily kilowatt-hour (kWh).
2. My air fryer is 2,000 watts (some are lower). If I use it for 30 minutes that is 1 kWh.
3. My electric oven is 3,000 watts. If I use it for the same dish it would probably take about 40 minutes which comes out at 1.98 kWh.
4. Average prices at the moment (September 2022) in the UK are about 34p per kWh, but that could go up again.
5. So cooking a dish for 30 minutes an air fryer (some are lower power and so cheaper) comes in at 34p.
6. Cooking the same dish in an oven (these also vary) comes in at 67p.

These veggie sausage rolls are ready in under half an hour, but it gives you an idea.

It's quite a difference and could really add up over the weeks, months, and year.

Storing and freezing

These easy vegan sausage rolls will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

You can also freeze these sausage rolls before baking them.

Flash freeze them on a tray, then pop them in a freezer bag or tub in the freezer for up to 3 months, then bake from frozen.

If they are pre-cooked, wrap in foil before baking, so they don't brown too much.

How to serve leftover bolognese sausage rolls

Here are a few ideas on how to serve these gorgeous vegan sausage rolls.

Although, I'm sure you'll have some great ideas too.

• Hot - out of the oven, as they are
• Cold - in lunchboxes
• Nursery style - with mashed potato (try this Kenyan bean, corn and potato mash) and baked beans
• Chip shop style - with chips and peas
• Sunday dinner - serve with vegetables, roast potatoes and gravy
• Salad - served cold with potato wedges and salad

More vegan puff pastry recipes

 

Here are a few easy, but tasty vegan puff pastry recipes for you to try next.

1. Butternut Squash, Red Pepper & Potato Plait - perfect for Sunday dinner, Thanksgiving or Christmas served with veg, roast potatoes, and gravy
2. Garlic Mushroom & Spinach Tart - my favourite tart
3. Layered Burger Veggie Pies - use your favourite burgers
4. Mini Falafel Onion Pies - Serve hot or cold
5. Mushroom & Chestnut Sausage Rolls - so, so good
6. Pesto Cheese Swirls - easy but very moreish
7. Pizza Swirls - kids love these and they are great in lunch boxes too
8. Spicy Lentil Sausage Rolls - everyone loves these
9. Vegan Asparagus Tart with Cheese Sauce - the cheesy sauce takes this tart to the next level
10. Vegan Haggis Sausage Rolls - a taste of Scotland

For more puff pastry inspiration check out my guide 25 Awesome Puff Pastry Recipes for Vegans.

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How to make leftover bolognese sausage rolls

Scroll down for step-by-step photos followed by a full printable recipe. 

If you don't have a printer, hit print then save as a PDF.

Step 1

• Add herbs, chilli flakes, salt, and pepper to the bolognese.
• Then add the oats and mix in.
• If your bolognese is wet you might need more oats and if it is slightly dry, you may need less.
• You want it to be moist but not wet.

Step 2

• Unroll your puff pastry (or roll out block pastry).
• Cut along the middle lengthways, so you have two long strips.
• Divide the mixture along the middle of each strip in a sausage shape.
• Brush a little water along one long edge and fold the pastry up and over the filling, joining it with an overlap of pastry along the top.
• Flip the two long sausage rolls over (so the join is underneath.
• Cut each long sausage roll into three even-sized sausage rolls (or mini sausage rolls).
• Cut slits in the top of the sausage rolls so the steam escapes as they bake.
• Brush each veggie sausage roll with oil (or milk) and top with sesame seeds.

Step 3

• Place the sausage rolls on a baking tray or air fryer shelf and bake until golden.
• Serve hot or cold.
• Enjoy!

sausage rolls. vegetarian sausage rolls, vegan sausage rolls, puff pastry, bolognese, leftover bolognese

dinner

British

Yield: 6

Author: Jacqueline Meldrum

Leftover Bolognese Sausage Rolls with Puff Pastry

Use that leftover bolognese to make these delicious puff pastry sausage rolls and cook them in the oven or the air fryer until crispy and golden.

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 400g (1 ¾ cups leftover) bolognese
• 70g (¾ cup) oats (porridge oats or rolled oats), more if the mixture is too wet
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
• 1 pinch salt & pepper
• 375g (13.2 oz) puff pastry
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (or milk), for brushing
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions

1. If baking these sausage rolls in the oven, preheat to 180c/160c fan/350f/gas mark 4. If baking in an air fryer, it will only need to be preheated for a couple of minutes, so you can do that (same temperature) while you are brushing them and adding the sesame seeds.
2. In a large bowl, add herbs, chilli flakes, salt, and pepper to the bolognese and mix in.
3. Then add the oats and mix those in too.
4. If your bolognese is wet you might need more oats and if it is slightly dry, you may need less. You want it to be moist but not wet.
5. Unroll your (or roll your block) puff pastry.
6. Cut along the middle lengthways, so you have two long strips.
7. Divide the mixture along the middle of each strip in a sausage shape.
8. Brush a little water along one long edge and fold the pastry up and over the filling, joining it with an overlap of pastry along the top.
9. Flip the two long sausage rolls over (so the join is underneath.
10. Cut each long sausage roll into three even-sized sausage rolls (or mini sausage rolls).
11. Cut slits in the top of the sausage rolls so the steam escapes as they bake.
12. Brush each veggie sausage roll with oil (or milk) and top with sesame seeds.
13. Place the sausage rolls on a baking tray or air fryer shelf and bake on the middle shelf for 25 minutes in the oven or 20 minutes in the air fryer (middle shelf too) until golden.
14. Serve hot or cold.
15. Enjoy!

Notes

• You can add grated cheddar (vegan or dairy, depending on your diet) into the bolognese mix or add it as a layer on top of your bolognese mixture inside the sausage rolls.
• Serve these hot or cold.
• They will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
• You can also freeze these sausage rolls before baking them. Flash freeze them on a tray, then pop them in a freezer bag or tub in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Bake from frozen.
• If they are pre-cooked, wrap in foil before baking, so they don't brown too much.

Variations

1. Cheese - add grated vegan cheddar to the mixture or as a layer on top
2. Chilli - add chilli flakes to the mix for a bit of heat
3. Hot sauce - add hot sauce to the mixture to spice it up
4. Spinach - add a layer of spinach before adding the bolognese

Nutrition Facts

Calories

213.05

Fat (grams)

20.13

Sat. Fat (grams)

4.52

Carbs (grams)

22.58

Fiber (grams)

2.43

Net carbs

34.16

Sugar (grams)

0.6

Protein (grams)

6.25

Sodium (milligrams)

168.58

Cholesterol (grams)

2.8

This information is approximated using a nutrition and calorie calculator.

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