Sausage (Kabab) Rolls In Victoria, BC, Canada
The city of Victoria has long been famous for its genteel elegance, much like the queen it is named after. But it also has had the reputation for being a little dull, old-fashioned and a great place for retirees. Fortunately, those days are long past and modern Victoria is a vibrant, multicultural city, home to several universities and a thriving technology sector, with an exciting cultural life that includes a symphony, ballet company, several theatres and music festivals.
The legendary beauty of Victoria is visible as you take a walk around its charming downtown, where you can see the impressive Parliament Building set amidst manicured lawns. A short distance away are the historic Empress Hotel, famous for its Afternoon Tea service, and the Royal British Columbia Museum that hosts spectacular exhibits on Aboriginal cultures.
You must take a stroll around the bustling Inner Harbour, a lovely place to visit and be a part of the action. Here you can people watch to your heart’s content or catch a breathtaking performance by one of the many talented street artists working here. This is also the place from which you can catch ferries to surrounding areas. Many boat tours leave from here including those to see the whales that are one of the biggest attractions along the coast.
Downtown Victoria has a large number of historic buildings that have been lovingly restored, and is a popular location for shooting film and television shows. It also has excellent restaurants, serving all sorts of food from traditional English pubs to avant-garde Asian cuisine. Some of the best sushi we have ever eaten was right here!
Victoria also has one of the oldest and best-preserved Chinatowns in Canada. Founded by Chinese immigrants in the nineteenth century who were drawn by the discovery of gold along the west coast, it became a large neighbourhood of houses, shops, restaurants churches, temples and schools. You can still visit the famous Fan-Tan Alley, a claustrophobia inducing narrow street that was once lined by gambling dens where the game of Fan-Tan was extremely popular. The gambling dens have long been replaced by stylish shops and boutiques that are fun to explore.
A trip to Victoria wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the famous Butchart Gardens. Built over a hundred years ago around a former limestone quarry, these gardens were lovingly created by Robert and Jennie Butchart. The quarry was transformed into a fabulous sunken garden with over 900 varieties of plants laid out in delightful groupings across the grounds. You can stroll along meandering paths through lush, colourful landscapes and discover the stunning Japanese garden, the dazzling Italian garden bursting with flowers and the charming Rose garden with its graceful arches. Along the way you will also come across fountains, statuary, totem poles and even a carousel with hand carved animals that will amaze and delight you.
Once you’ve explored and admired the extensive gardens, pamper yourself with a sumptuous afternoon tea at The Dining Room restaurant, where you can sit out in the covered veranda overlooking Jennie Butchart’s private garden. Enjoy the beauty of your surroundings as you tuck into house made delicacies such as their signature ginger scones with clotted cream and jam, smoked salmon sandwiches, quiche, sausage rolls and an assortment of fresh pastries that will transport you to heaven! Wash it all down with the perfect pot of tea from their curated selection.
A spicy, Indian twist on the delicious sausage rolls that we had at The Butchart Gardens, these are very easy to make - check out our full video by clicking on the image above. You can substitute ground beef or chicken in place of lamb and use whatever herbs and spices you happen to have on hand. Enjoy these spicy rolls with a cup of Masala Chai - Mmmmm delicious!
Sausage Kabab Rolls
1/2 lb lean ground lamb
1/2 cup each, finely chopped: onions, fresh coriander and mint
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 inch piece ginger, minced
2 eggs, divided
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp each, ground spices: coriander, cumin, garam masala, fennel, paprika
1 sheet (225g) pre-rolled frozen puff pastry, thawed
Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground lamb, onions, fresh coriander, mint, garlic, ginger, 1 egg, breadcrumbs, salt, cayenne and all of the ground spices. Mix well with your hands to combine thoroughly.
Divide puff pastry sheet lengthwise into three equal parts, dust lightly with flour on both sides of pastry. Keep pastry chilled in the refrigerator until needed.
Divide lamb mixture into three equal portions.
Working with one piece of puff pastry at a time (keep remainder chilled), place it on work surface with the long side facing you.
Spread one portion of the lamb mixture onto one half of the pastry, keeping a 1/4 inch border around the edges.
Beat remaining egg. Brush edges all around with egg. Fold pastry over top of the filling, stretching it lightly to meet at the edges if necessary. Seal edges and crimp with a fork.
Cut puff pastry roll into 6 equal parts using a sharp knife. If you would like smaller rolls, cut into 8 or more pieces.
Place rolls in a single layer on parchment lined baking tray and brush tops lightly with beaten egg.
Repeat with remaining pastry and filling.
Bake for 25 minutes until tops are golden and filling is cooked through.
Heap on a platter and serve with chutney.
Serves six
