Homemade Merguez Recipes

HOMEMADE MERGUEZ

Steps:

• In a small skillet over medium-low heat, toast cumin, coriander and fennel seeds until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer warm spices to a spice grinder and grind well, or use a mortar and pestle and pound seeds.
• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Form lamb mixture into desired shape (1-inch-thick by 5-inch-long cigars make nice merguez, but fatter cylinders or patties will also work). Chill for up to 5 days, freeze for up to 3 months, or use immediately.
• Brush sausages with oil and grill or broil them until browned and cooked through. Or fry them in a little oil until well browned all over. Serve with more cilantro and harissa on the side, if desired.

MOROCCAN MERGUEZ SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except sausage casings (if using) in a large bowl.
• Knead the mixture well to evenly distribute the spices, herbs, and harissa.
• Shape as desired.
• Alternatively, you can pass the ingredients through a meat grinder and feed the merguez mixture into sausage casings.
• For the best flavor, allow the merguez to sit for 30 minutes or longer in the refrigerator before cooking.
• Place on grill or under broiler until cooked through and meat registers temperature of 155 F with meat thermometer.

HOMEMADE MERGUEZ SAUSAGE RECIPE

Steps:

• Place cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds in a cast iron skillet over medium heat and toast until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a spice grinder and grind into a fine powder. Transfer spice mixture to a small bowl and mix in paprika, salt, and cayenne.
• Place lamb and fat in a large bowl. Add in spice mixture, garlic, and harissa. Toss to thoroughly coat meat and fat in spices. Refrigerate until chilled, about 20 minutes.
• Grind mixture through a meat grinder, fitted with small die, into a medium bowl set into a large bowl filled with ice.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix ground meat on low speed for 1 minute. Add in water and mix until liquid is incorporated and sausage is uniform and sticky, about 1 minute more.
• Form a small sausage patty; place rest of sausage mixture in refrigerator. Cook patty in a small frying pan over medium-high heat until cooked through. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
• Stuff sausage into lamb casings and twist into 6-inch links. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate . Grill over medium-high direct heat until sausage registers 155°F when an instant read thermometer is inserted in middle of link. Remove from grill, let rest for 5 minutes, and serve.

CLASSIC FRENCH MERGUEZ RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Toast cumin, fennel, and coriander seeds in a dry skillet set over medium heat, constantly stirring, for about 2 minutes, until they become fragrant. Be very careful not to overcook, and worst still, burn the spices.
• Once toasted, allow seeds to cool and process them in a spice grinder.
• Add toasted, ground seeds to paprika, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon.
• Place ground lamb in a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle spice mixture, chopped herbs, crushed garlic, and salt over meat. Mix seasonings into meat.
• The seasoned meat can then be either formed into patties, the size and shape of your choice, or, fill bought sausage casings with lamb mixture. For this, you will need a sausage stuffer attachment often sold for stand mixers , or a stuffing machine.
• Once made, chill before using.
• Cook patties or sausages or simply fry until cooked through.
• Serve stuffed into a bun, pita, or slice and serve in Middle Eastern flatbreads.

HOMEMADE MERGUEZ SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a cast-iron skillet over low heat, toast cumin, coriander seeds and fennel seeds until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer warm spices to a spice grinder or use a mortar and pestle to pound them until fine. Combine with the paprika and cayenne pepper; set aside.
• In the bowl mix together the ground lamb with the spices, cilantro and salt. Pinch off a little of the mixture, form into a patty and brush with olive oil. Fry in a hot skillet to check the seasonings. Adjust the seasonings, if necessary.
• Form sausages into patties to cook immediately or for storing in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Note: 1. Chill for up to 5 days, freeze for up to 3 months or use immediately. 2. Brush sausages with olive oil and fry, grill or broil until browned and cooked through.