Merguez Sausage Recipe
Merguez sausages, traditionally made from lamb or beef, are never prepared with pork or pork casings, as they originated in countries with predominantly Muslim populations.Even as merguez has spread globally, this characteristic has remained essential to its identity—using other meats would go against its origins. In recent years, merguez has gained popularity on the streets of Paris, France, along with other North African and Moroccan cuisine. This has inspired new ways to enjoy the dish; once served with rice, it is now commonly sold from food trucks in buns or alongside French fries. Merguez is a spicy sausage made from lamb or beef, seasoned with flavors popular in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Ingredients
- Ground lamb or beef – 1 lb.
- Garlic, minced – 4 cloves
- Cilantro, chopped – 2 tbsp.
- Harissa – 3 tbsp.
- Merguez spice mix – 2 tbsp.
- Sausage casings
Merguez Spice Mix
- Merguez Spice Mix
- Cumin – 2 tbsp.
- Fennel seeds – 2 tbsp
- Toasted and ground coriander seeds – 2 tsp.
- Cinnamon – 1 tsp
- Salt – 2 tbsp
- Olive oil – ¼ cup
- Cayenne pepper – 1 tsp.
- Black pepper – 1 tsp.
- Confectioner’s sugar – 2 tsp.
Instructions
- Toast your spices. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast coriander and fennel seeds until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes.
- Move roasted seeds to a mortar and grind them along with other spices.
- Assemble the sausage contents. Use a large bowl to mix all ingredients well, aside from the sausage casings if using.
- Make sure to distribute the spices throughout the sausage mixture using your hands or a spatula.
- If using sausage casings, pass the mixture through a meat grinder and into the sausage casings.
- If not using casings, shape the sausages as desired. Rolled cigar-like shaped sausages are the most popular for Merguez, usually about 1 inch in diameter and 4-5 inches long. However, you can also make patties or balls.
- To cook, simply place on a grill or skillet over medium-high heat and cook all the way through.
Nutrition
Calories: 112kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 5gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 1052mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1g
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