Institute reveals breakthrough sausage roll discoveries from public research trial
Media Release
With footy finals on the horizon, one question dominates kitchens and canteens alike: what makes the ultimate sausage roll?
The National Institute for Sausage Roll Excellence has taken this mystery out of the oven and into the lab. The Institute, championed by Otway Pork, launched a large-scale, nation-wide trial, calling on the public to submit their most closely guarded sausage roll secrets.
The response was overwhelming. Hundreds of “research partners” shared tips, tweaks and theories – from family traditions to international twists – all rigorously tested over generations and held tightly under wraps. Until now.
After analysing the dataset, the Institute can officially report the top 10 variables most likely to elevate a sausage roll:
Tip 1: Fresh grated apple: For one home cook, the secret is balancing savoury and sweet by grating in fresh apple. They swear by this addition to balance the savoury sausage roll filling.
Tip 2: Fennel seeds: Pro chef and butcher, Darren O’Rourke turns to fennel seeds, prized for their distinctive anise flavour.
Tip 3: Curry powder: For others, it’s a dash of curry powder for extra kick.
Tip 4: Worcestershire sauce: One BBQ guru says the real game-changer is Worcestershire sauce. He adds a few dashes both in the filling and as a dipping sauce.
Tip 5: Caramelised onion: Another tip to make the humble sausage roll a game-changer is to fold deeply caramelised onions into the filling instead of raw.
Tip 6: Turnips: An unconventional yet popular tip was adding grated turnip to the mix.
Tip 7: Zesty chutney: While classic tomato sauce reigned supreme for dipping, some people advocated for swaps such as zesty chutney or mustard to complement the rich, meaty filling.
Tip 8: Sweet chilli sauce: Several fans suggested a fusion twist by adding a splash of sweet chilli sauce to the sausage roll filling. This addition brings a sweet yet tangy heat that perfectly complements the savoury pork.
Tip 9: French onion soup: One home cook’s suggestion was to incorporate French onion soup mix into the filling. This ready-made blend adds a rich, flavour-packed depth, that make these sausage rolls irresistibly moreish.
Tip 10: Hide them: Our favourite unconventional tip to getting the most out of your sausage rolls was to keep them away from the kids. Makes sense.
Vice Chancellor of NISRE and Otway Pork CEO, Duncan Parry, notes one additional variable not to be overlooked.
“You can’t go past grated cheese added to the minced pork mix, with a little egg brushed on top for extra crispy pastry,” Duncan said.
“Of course, while flavour pairings will always vary, the control variable remains constant. The data is clear: the foundation of every great sausage roll is quality pork. And the finest pork is Otway Pork.”
From grated apple to French onion soup, the findings show Australians are willing to experiment, but only within one framework: puff pastry wrapped around Otway Pork.
NISRE encourages the public to continue their at-home experiments and submit new discoveries to further the science of sausage roll excellence.
Otway Pork can be found in butchers, delis, specialty food stores and supermarkets across Australia.
