French Merguez Sausages Culinary Communion Recipes

Steps:

• Marinate: toss the lamb, fatback, and dry seasonings together, then chill well (at least 2 hours).
• Grind: grind meat mixture through grinder using a medium plate (1/4-inch) into a mixing bowl over an ice bath.
• Mix and develop protein: in an electric mixer, mix on low speed for 1 minute, adding the red wine a little at a time. Mix on medium speed for 15 to 20 seconds, or until the sausage mixture is sticky to the touch.
• Make a tester: make a test patty and pan fry. Adjust the seasoning and consistency if necessary before putting sausage into casings.
• Stuff: stuff the sausage into the prepared casings and twist into 15-inch links. Cut into individual links. Make a spiral with each link and secure with a 6-inch skewer.
• Cook: the sausage is now ready to prepare for eating by pan frying, baking, grilling, or broiling to an internal temperature of 150 degrees F, or hold under refrigeration for up to 7 days.
• Notes: regarding the links -- we don't make the 15-inch links, we make links about 4 inches long, twisting them into link-shape as we're filling the casings. It's up to you, of course, how you make them. These sausages are absolutely delicious, and I hope you'll try the recipe! The recipe appear to definitely be a French version of Merguez, rather than the Turnisian version -- all I know is that they're very, very tasty. :).

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook until it softens, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add the crumbled sausage and cook until it is mostly browned, about 7-9 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Careful not to let it burn!) Reduce heat to medium.
• Add the tomato and basil and cook until tomato softens, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Quick now, cook the couscous: bring broth to a boil, add couscous; remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes. Stir and fluff with a fork.
• Mix cooked sausage mixture with the cooked couscous and crumbled feta (if using). Season to taste with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and squeeze over a bit of freshly squeeze lemon or lime juice. Serve!
• Servings: about 6.
• Mike's suggestions for substitutions/additions: 1 Tbsp finely chopped calamata olive, chopped mushroom, chopped artichoke heart, chopped sundried tomato, sautéed fennel, spinach, chopped cucumber.
• As far as sausage goes, we use our homemade lamb-based French Merguez (also posted here at http://www.food.com/recipe/french-merguez-sausages-culinary-communion-340487) which is astoundingly good. But a flavorful Italian sausage would be good, too. Seasoned turkey sausage would be fine if you want to make it even leaner. Or hey, mmm, chorizo! You can even use vegetarian no-meat sausage, if you like - just pay attention to the seasonings so it doesn't turn out tasting bland.
• Re tomatoes: I dislike cooked tomato peel, so I prefer to not use cherry tomatoes for this dish. Regular chopped fresh tomato is my preference.
• This is a really versatile recipe, you can substitute ingredients to achieve whatever flavor profile you want. Also, we get our couscous in bulk because otherwise it's far too expensive to buy in prepackaged little boxes.

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE BRIOCHE: Measure flour into a bowl. In a separate bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water; add 2 tbsp flour from the bowl and whisk until smooth. Cover and let stand in a warm place for 15 to 20 minutes, or until mixture has doubled in volume. Stir sugar and salt into remaining flour in the bowl.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs well. Pour yeast mixture into eggs, then add softened butter. Add flour mixture in four batches, mixing after each addition. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until dough is smooth and sticky.
• Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Cover and let stand in a warm place about 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until dough has tripled in size.
• TO PREPARE THE SAUSAGE: In a 2 quart ovenproof pan, cover the sausage with stock, wine, and minced scallions. Cover and bake on the middle rack of a 375°F oven for 30 minutes. Remove the sausage and let cool, making sure it is straight and the ends do not curve. Reserve 1 cup of pan liquid for sauce. When sausage is cool enough to handle, remove the sausage casing. Allow sausage meat to cool to room temperature, then roll in flour to coat well.
• When brioche dough has risen, remove from the bowl and place on a floured surface. The dough should be soft but firm enough to handle. Sprinkle flour all over the dough and flour a rolling pin. Gently, without pressure, roll the dough to a 10 x 10 inch square. Wrap the sausage in the dough. Place the bundle, seam side down, in a buttered 9 by 5 inch loaf pan. Let brioche rise from about 1 hour, or until it fills most of the pan.
• TO MAKE GLAZE: In a small bowl, mix egg yolk and water. Brush glaze over the brioche. Bake brioche on the middle rack of a 400°F oven for 30 minutes, or until brioche is golden brown. Let the loaf cool in the loaf pan for a few minutes, then remove it from the pan and let it cool on a rack for 30 minutes more.
• While loaf is cooling, prepare mustard sauce. In a bowl, blend the mustard, butter, and cornstarch until mixture is smooth. Skim any grease off the reserved 1 cup of sausage poaching liquid and pour liquid into a small saucepan.
• Add cream and bring to a boil. Whisk the mustard mixture into the boiling liquid. Cook over high heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• When brioche loaf is cool, slice and serve with warm mustard sauce. Serves 8.
• Back Roads and Country Cooking.

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except casings and olive oil in a mixing bowl and mix well with your hands.Fry a small amount as a test and adjust seasonings to taste. It should be somewhat hot and the cinnamon should be balanced by the herbs.
• Using the sausage stuffing attachment of a stand mixer, stuff the casings with the mixture and twist and tie to make 4-inch links. Alternatively, shape into 3-inch lozenges, slightly fatter in the middle, formed around metal skewers, or simply into small patties.
• Heat the grill or broiler. If the sausages are in casings, prick them with a fork 2 to 3 times and brush with oil. Grill or broil them 3-4 minutes each side until cooked through. For lozenges or patties, brush with a little oil and grill about 3 minutes each side, or saute the patties in a little oil over high heat.

Steps:

• Put the lamb in a mixing bowl and add the ingredients up to and including the minced garlic. Blend the mixture thoroughly by hand. To test the sausage for seasoning, shape a small portion into a patty. Cook the patty in a lightly-oiled skillet and season to taste.
• Shape the mixture into eight equal balls then flatten each into a patty.
• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet and add the patties. You may do this in two batches, depending on the skillet size. Cook the patties for 8 minutes, turning when necessary. Drain on paper towels.