Sweet Potato & Caramelised Onion Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Black pepper freshly ground, to season
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed and cut in half
- 3 red onions finely sliced
- Sea salt flakes to season
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds black
- 2 medium sweet potatoes 650 g
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ยฝ small bunch coriander finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200ยฐC.
- Pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork and microwave on HIGH for 8 minutes, until soft in the centre. Leave to cool for 10 minutes.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a frying pan. Add the onions, season and air fry or cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, harissa and tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Transfer the onion mixture to a bowl.
- Scoop the flesh from the sweet potatoes and add it to the onion mixture with the coriander. Season and mash until mostly smooth.
- Place a sheet of baking paper on the work surface. Spoon half the filling along the centre of one pastry piece.
- Shape the filling into a long log. Brush the pastry edge lightly with water, fold over the filling and press to seal. Crimp the edges with a fork.
- Repeat with the remaining filling and pastry.
- Cut each roll into 7 cm pieces.
- Arrange the rolls in the air fryer basket, brush with milk and sprinkle with black sesame seeds.
- Score the tops lightly.
- Air fry for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
- Cool slightly before serving.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve the rolls warm or at room temperature. They work well as an Appetizer, savoury snack or part of a sharing platter with a fresh salad or yoghurt-based dip.Recipe Notes
Allow the sweet potatoes to cool slightly before scooping out the flesh. Mash the filling until mostly smooth while leaving a little texture from the caramelised onion and coriander. Keep the puff pastry chilled until you are ready to fill it. Warm pastry becomes soft and difficult to seal, while cool pastry produces a better rise and crisper layers.Cooking Advice
Seal and crimp the pastry edges firmly so the filling stays inside during cooking. Lightly scoring the tops allows steam to escape while the pastry becomes crisp and golden.Storage Advice
Store cooled rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the Airfryer until thoroughly hot and crisp.Wine Advice
The sweet potato, caramelised onion and spicy harissa work well with a fruity white wine. Choose a suitable wine from Renรฉ’s Wijnbeleving.Nutrition values
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About Sweet Potato & Caramelised Onion Rolls
Sweet Potato & Caramelised Onion Rolls combine crisp puff pastry with a soft, savoury filling of sweet potato, red onion, garlic, harissa, tomato paste and fresh coriander. Cooked in the Airfryer, the pastry becomes golden and flaky while the filling stays moist and full of flavour.
Preparing the Sweet Potatoes
The sweet potatoes form the main body of the filling. Piercing them before microwaving allows steam to escape and helps them cook evenly.
Once completely soft, leave them to cool briefly before scooping the flesh from the skins. The cooked flesh should mash easily without requiring additional liquid.
Caramelising the Red Onions
Red onions contribute both sweetness and savoury depth. Cooking them gently in olive oil softens their texture and concentrates their natural sugars.
Garlic, harissa and tomato paste are added towards the end of cooking. This allows their flavours to develop without burning the garlic or making the harissa bitter.
Adding Harissa
Harissa gives the filling warmth and complexity. Its chilli and spice flavours provide an effective contrast with the naturally sweet potato and caramelised onion.
Two tablespoons create a noticeable spicy character. The amount can be reduced when a milder filling is preferred.
Fresh Coriander
Fresh coriander is mixed through the filling after cooking. Adding it at this stage preserves more of its fresh herbal flavour.
The coriander also provides a bright contrast to the richer flavours of sweet potato, caramelised onion and tomato paste.
Preparing the Puff Pastry
Thawed puff pastry makes these rolls relatively quick to assemble. Keep the pastry cool while working because chilled layers expand more effectively during cooking.
The filling is placed in a long line along the centre before the pastry is folded over and sealed. Pressing and crimping the seam firmly helps prevent it from opening in the air fryer.
Shaping the Rolls
Once the long pastry rolls have been formed, cut them into approximately 7 cm pieces. Keeping the pieces similar in size helps them cook at the same rate.
A light brushing of milk encourages browning, while black sesame seeds provide additional flavour, texture and contrast against the golden pastry.
Cooking in the Air Fryer
Arrange the rolls with enough room around them for the circulating hot air to reach the pastry. Depending on the size of the basket, cooking in batches may be necessary.
The rolls need approximately 20 to 30 minutes. They are ready when the pastry is puffed, deeply golden and completely cooked around the filling.
Serving Ideas
These savoury rolls can be served warm or at room temperature, making them particularly convenient for lunch, picnics and parties. Serve them alone or with a fresh salad and a cooling yoghurt dip.
They can also be included on a larger platter with other pastries, vegetables and dips for an informal shared meal.
Preparing Ahead
The sweet potato and onion filling can be prepared ahead and refrigerated once completely cool. Assemble the pastry rolls shortly before cooking for the best texture.
If the pastry becomes soft during assembly, place the prepared rolls in the refrigerator briefly before transferring them to the air fryer.
Storage and Reheating
Leftover rolls can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Allow them to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container.
Reheat in the air fryer rather than the microwave when possible. The circulating dry heat helps restore the flaky texture of the pastry.
Sweet Potato & Caramelised Onion Rolls combine sweet, spicy and savoury flavours inside crisp golden pastry. The harissa adds warmth, coriander brings freshness and black sesame seeds provide a simple finishing touch, creating versatile rolls that work equally well as a snack, appetizer or part of a shared meal.