Roulade facts for kids
A roulade (say "roo-LAHD") is a yummy dish made by rolling up food. It can be a slice of meat with a filling inside, or a piece of cake rolled around a sweet filling. Think of it like a delicious food "roll-up"!
Roulades can be savory (like meat with veggies) or sweet (like a cake roll). The word "roulade" comes from the French word rouler, which means "to roll". You can find different kinds of roulades in many European countries.
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What is a Meat Roulade?
A meat roulade usually starts with a thin slice of meat, like steak. This meat is then rolled around a tasty filling. Fillings can include things like cheese, vegetables, or even other kinds of meat.
After it's rolled, the roulade is often browned in a pan. Then, it's cooked slowly in a liquid like wine or broth. This makes the meat very tender and flavorful. To keep the roll together while cooking, people often use a toothpick, a metal skewer, or a piece of string. Once cooked, the roulade is sliced into rounds and served.
Different Meat Roulades Around the World
Many countries have their own special versions of meat roulades:
- Paupiette: This is a French roulade, often made with veal. It can be filled with vegetables, fruits, or even sweet treats.
- Rinderroulade: In Germany and Hungary, this is a popular beef roulade. It's usually filled with onions, bacon, and pickles. There's also Kohlrouladen, which is cabbage filled with minced meat.
- Španělské ptáčky: Meaning "Spanish birds," these are Czech roulades. They are very similar to German Rouladen. They might include a piece of hard-boiled egg or a frankfurter in the filling. These "birds" are usually about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long and served whole.
- Szüz tekercsek: In Hungary, this means "Virgin rouladen." It's a dish filled with minced meat.
- Zrazy: This roulade is popular in Poland.
- Rollade: In the Netherlands, most "rollades" are made from rolled pork. They are often not filled, but seasoned with pepper, salt, and nutmeg.
Italian Involtini: Little Bundles of Flavor
In Italian cuisine, roulades are called involtini. This word means "little bundles." Involtini are made with thin slices of beef, pork, or chicken.
They are rolled with fillings like grated cheese (like Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano). Sometimes, egg is added to help the filling stick together. Other common fillings include bread crumbs, other cheeses, minced prosciutto, ham, Italian sausage, mushrooms, onions, garlic, spinach, or pine nuts.
Each involtino is held together with a wooden toothpick. They are usually served as a main course with different sauces, like red or white sauce. If they are cooked in tomato sauce, that sauce can even be used for the pasta served as the first course!
In southern Italy, especially in Sicily, people sometimes make involtini with fish. Swordfish involtini are a good example. Other famous Italian rolled dishes include braciole and saltimbocca.
Sweet Roulades: Cake Rolls and More
Some roulades are sweet treats! These are often made from a thin cake, like a sponge cake, baked flat. This cake is then rolled around a delicious filling.
A Swiss roll is a great example of a sweet roulade. It's cake rolled around jam, chocolate cream, nuts, or other yummy fillings. The bûche de Noël, also known as the "Yule log," is a traditional French Christmas cake roll. It's often decorated to look like a tree log.
Another type of non-meat roulade is made from a soufflé-like mixture. This mixture is baked flat and then rolled around a filling.
