So you’re off to a social event and can’t think of what to bring. Seems like just about everything is taken care of --- until brilliance strikes!
Of course, why not bring a delicious vegan sausage roll made with that irresistible flaky, golden crust? Crispy, crunchy, and bursting with herbs and a hearty mushroom and onion filling, it’s the perfect dish for a party of 1 or 100.
Inspired by Tracy at Simply Ceecee (1), this easy-to-make and fun-to-bake European cuisine will be flying off the table – better grab some while you can! Pair this with a Pure. I.V. (4) on ice and you’re ready to party.
Ready to dive in? Let’s get rolling.
The Wonder of Mushrooms
Mushrooms are interesting specimens. Classified as fungi, this textured and flavorful superfood is low in calories but high in nutrition. Research has found that edible mushrooms contain antioxidant compounds (2) that can:
- Lower blood pressure
- Protect heart health
- Support your immune system
- Fight inflammation
- Boost brain power and preserve cognitive function
- Provide a natural source of Vitamin D
Related article: Mushrooms for the Mind: Adaptogenic Mushrooms to Help You Process Change (3)
Recipe
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 - 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon organic, cold-pressed olive oil
- 1 medium white onion, finely chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 5 cups finely chopped mushrooms (button, cremini, oyster or chestnut work best)
- 7-8 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dry sage, optional
- 4-5 tbsp soy or tamari sauce
- 1 cup raw cashew nuts, pulsed (or ½ cup bread crumbs)
- 2-3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- Ground black pepper and salt to taste
- 2 sheets of vegan puff pastry, thawed completely
- Honey mustard sauce for dipping, optional (but highly recommended)
Instructions
- Heat the 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onions and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and sauté over medium heat until the onions are translucent — about 5-8 minutes.
- While the onions are cooking, chop up your mushrooms (you can blend varieties for extra flavor). Add chopped mushrooms to skillet and cook until they look caramelized about 7-8 minutes.
- Rinse and remove thyme leaves from the stem; set aside (you can also add the whole sprig and simply remove the stem once cooked --- your preference).
- Add thyme, parsley, and soy/tamari sauce.
- Lower heat to medium-low and continue cooking. Once most of the liquid has evaporated, remove the skillet from heat.
- Pour a rounded cup of cashews into the food processor and pulse until the texture is breadcrumb-like.
- Combine crumbled cashews with nutritional yeast and add to the mushroom mixture. Taste the mixture, adjusting seasonings to meet your personal taste.
- Add the crumbled vegan sausage, and the sage and mix together well. Check if you need more salt and pepper and add if necessary. Turn off the heat.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Take one of the puff pastry sheets and lay it flat on the counter. You can either use it as is or roll it out gently until it gets a couple of inches longer.
- Cut the pastry in half longways, making a long rectangle.
- Spoon the mushroom filling slightly off-center of the pastry. Lightly dab the long edge of the pastry with water.
- Lift the long side of the pastry up and fold over the filling. Tuck and roll to create a tight roll. Brush plant-based milk to the edge to seal if required.
- Cut them into bite-size pieces, or larger if you like.
- Arrange the pieces on a baking sheet with the seam side down on a baking sheet. Brush the top with plant-based milk or melted vegan butter. For added pizzaz, sprinkle with Everything But the Bagel seasoning, a few sesame seeds, or chopped parsley (or a combination of the three).
- Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Alternatives
Filling: If you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to combine all the filling ingredients, opt for about 13 to 14 oz vegan sausage (commercial examples include Field Roast's Smoked Apple Sage or Beyond).
Cashews: Not a fan of cashews? No problem. Sub in the same amount of walnuts and add about ½ teaspoon of maple syrup to get that hint of sweetness.
Pro tip: Need to make them ahead of time? Premade rolls can be stored in the freezer for up to a couple of months before baking.
Wrap-Up (yes, pun intended)
It’s not every day you come across a recipe that’s easy to make, fun to eat, and good to the last crumb. You get all this and more with this vegan sausage roll recipe.
Enjoy the health benefits of mushrooms and herbs while satisfying your taste buds with a crispy, golden pastry crust. Melt in your mouth, you’ll be asked to bring it again and again!
Know someone who might like to give this a try? Share this recipe with them today!
References
1. https://simplyceecee.co/vegan-sausage-rolls/
2. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-mushrooms/
4. https://karamd.com/products/pure-i-v
✝✝This noted statement is based on independent research and is not necessarily the opinion of the author