Merguez sausage is a traditional North African lamb dish. Red in colour and spicy, they are smaller than traditional British sausages – at around two centimetres in diameter and ten centimeters in length. We reckon they are some of the tastiest sausages about, and we’d love you to give them a try!
While they may not be available on every supermarket shelf, some meat delivery services like the Dorset Meat Company offer an incredibly tasty take on this sausage, using local grass-fed lamb reared on small Dorset and Wiltshire farms. The meat is blended with oats, salt, black pepper and a range of herbs and spices to create a banger that really packs a flavour punch.
Unsure as to how to cook with them?
Here are five easy recipes to make the most out of your merguez!
Merguez Shakshuka
Sticking with the North African theme, why not stick some Merguez in a one-pot shakshuka? The name literally means “mixed up”, which just about explains the method for making the dish! Delicious and inexpensive to make, it ticks all the boxes for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Here’s what you’ll need:
– 2 tbsp olive oil
– 1 large onion
– 1 large bell pepper
– 3 cloves garlic
– 1 tsp ground cumin
– 3-4 eggs
– 4 Merguez sausages
– 1 lemon
– 1 tin chopped tomatoes
Preheat your oven to 190 degrees Celsius, or medium heat.
Cook your sausages in olive oil on a medium heat in a pan until they are cooked through. Then put them to one side for later.
Warm a little more olive oil in an oven-safe skillet. Add your large chopped onion, bell pepper and salt. Cook for approximately five minutes. Next, add the garlic, cumin, seasoning and any other herbs and spices of your choice, and cook for a further five minutes. Then add the tin of chopped tomatoes and merguez sausage (chopped or unchopped) and reduce the sauce for five minutes.
Finally, turn off the heat, and make space for the eggs you’re about to add with the back of a spoon. Crack your eggs into the small holes and spoon a little of the tomato mix over the egg whites.
Bake the entire skillet in the oven from approximately 10 minutes. You know it’s ready when the egg whites have gone opaque! Season with fresh lemon juice.
Chilli, Tomato and Merguez Soup
A spin on a classic! Simply cook your merguez sausages and add to your shop-bought soup or follow our simple recipe to make your own!
You will need:
– 2 small onions
– 450g merguez sausages
– 3 garlic cloves, crushed
– 1.5 litres chicken stock
– Handful basil leaves
– 2 fresh red chillies
– 200ml white wine
– 350g cherry tomatoes
This is really so easy! Simply cook your sausages for approximately five minutes, then add your chopped onion, garlic and chilli. Cook for another ten minutes. Add your white wine and tomatoes and cook for another five minutes. Then, pour in your stock, and leave to simmer for an hour. And Voilà!
Merguez Pizza
Finally, if you’re making your own pizzas at home, you can’t go wrong with adding a few merguez sausages to your toppings. The added spice will be the making of a family favourite!
Tempted? We bet you are! So, if you’re ready to try something new and enjoy the very best meat produce available then opt for a delivery from the Dorset Meat Company and elevate your next meal to a new level. Your family and friends will thank you for it.
