These spicy sausage bites are a more sophisticated (and more delicious!) riff on pigs in a blanket. They make a great holiday party appetizer, but really they're delicious year round. The recipe calls for lamb sausage, but if you can't find any, regular spicy Italian pork sausage works fine. I like using store-bought puff pastry, but if you really want it to be special, you can make it homemade.

These bite-sized beauties couldn't be easier! All you have to do is sear the sausage, roll them up, and bake. But make sure you don't skip the chilling step before baking — if the puff pastry gets too warm, you won't get those flaky layers and it might end up greasy. The mint-sour cream dipping sauce is the perfect finishing touch to cool things down. After all, lamb and mint are a match made in heaven! 
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Spicy Sausage Bites

Category

Appetizer

Prep Time

45 minutes

Cook Time

30 minutes

Image of Spicy Sausage Bites

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Two 8.5-ounce packages merguez sausage or spicy lamb sausage
  • 10 ounces store-bought puff pastry (cut into 1-by-3-inch strips)
  • 1 egg (beaten)
  • 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. As seen on: Giada's Holiday Handbook, Episode 1. 'Tis The Season.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil to the pan, followed by the sausages. Sear the sausages on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a plate and let cool to room temperature.
  3. Cut the sausages into 1 1/2-inch pieces and roll the each piece in a strip of puff pastry. Place the wrapped sausages, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops of the rolls with egg and sprinkle with the caraway seeds. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before baking.
  4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  5. Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
  6. While the rolls bake, prepare the dipping sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mint and salt. Let the flavors marry for at least 5 minutes before serving alongside the sausage bites.
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