Scottish Rolls and Sausage with Cheese, Tomato and Onion

Traditional Scottish rolls and sausage incorporating cheese, tomato and onion

A roll and sliced sausage must be right up there among the most popular of all Scottish food creations widely enjoyed on a regular basis. A sliced sausage (also commonly called Lorne or square sausage) for those outside Scotland is a sausage sliced from a larger block of sausage meat, rather than one where the meat is stuffed in to a skin to form a conventional sausage shape. The sausages can be either grilled (broiled) or fried and even though grilling is generally the healthier option, I always fry them in vegetable oil as I find they can dry out so easily under the grill.

While the sausage is usually added to a plain bread roll (optionally buttered) and eaten as is with the addition only perhaps of some fried onions and/or sauce, I enjoy experimenting with different toppings for a plain roll and sausage. This simple combination of cheese, tomato and onion is one of my favourites.

Frying Scottish sliced sausages

Ingredients (Serves One)

2 sliced sausages
Vegetable oil for frying
4 slices from a medium tomato
2 slices from a medium onion, separated in to rings
6 slices of cheddar cheese (or as required)
2 Scottish morning rolls
Tomato ketchup (optional)

Tomato, onion and Scottish cheddar cheese

Directions

Pour a little oil in to a non-stick frying pan and gently fry the sausages for about four or five minutes each side until done.

Tomato, onion and cheese sliced and ready for topping sausages

You can use the time that the sausages are frying to slice the tomato, cheese and onion. You should also cut the rolls in half horizontally and lay the bottom halves on a grilling tray. Put your grill (broiler) on to preheat to maximum.

Scottish morning rolls

When the sausages are ready, use a spatula or cooking tongs to lift them on to the bottoms of the rolls on the grilling tray.

Sausages are laid on the base of the bread rolls

Arrange the onion rings and tomato slices alternately on top of the sausages. Lightly press down.

Tomato and onion slices are laid on top of sausages

Lay the cheese slices on top of the tomato and onion and once again, press down lightly. This helps prevent any of the toppings slipping off.

Cheese tops sausages, tomato and onion before grilling

Put the tray under the grill for a couple of minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

Cheese has been melted over sausages, tomato and onion

If desired, add some tomato sauce to the top of the cheese before placing the tops on the rolls.

Tomato ketchup is an optional but delicious addition to a roll and sausage