The Sensational Sausage

The concept of sausage is quite an old one and goes back to historic times in our culinary heritage where this term Sausage can refer to the loose sausage meat, which can be formed into patties or stuffed into a skin. When referred to as a product it is usually cylindrical and encased in a skin or a casing. Sausages have also been said to have probably been first been invented as a means of preserving blood, offal, and small scraps of meat in convenient edible containers, the stomachs, and intestines of the slaughtered animals.

While it is also said that the word “Sausage” was first used in English in the mid-15th century, spelled “sawsyge”. This word came from Old North French saussiche (Modern French saucisse)”. The French word came from Latin salsica (sausage), from salsicus (seasoned with salt). The earliest known reference to sausage dates to Greece in the eighth or ninth century BC. Evidence suggests that sausages were already popular both among the ancient Greeks and Romans and most likely with the various tribes occupying the larger part of Europe.

While sausages may have begun in frugality, they had already evolved into delicacies worthy of a gourmet’s attentions. Pork is the meat most commonly used to produce sausages. Hot dog or frankfurter, frank, or wien is a cooked sausage, traditionally grilled or steamed and served in a partially sliced bun. Pork and beef are the traditional meats used in hot dogs. 

Less expensive hot dogs are often made from chicken or turkey, using low-cost mechanically separated poultry, and while the sausage is also defined as a type of meat product usually made from ground meat, often pork, beef, or poultry, along with salt, spices, and other flavorings. Other ingredients such as grains or breadcrumbs may be included as fillers or extenders.

Though we also relate to forcemeats in association with sausage making with a variety of components and formulae which form a part of their composition have been helping create and prepare varied types of sausages around the world over the years which have been used in a number of ways in our culinary repertoire.

A Few Culinary Uses of Sausages:

While there are loads of sausages around the world for us to enjoy and relish in various recipes/ cooking styles and combinations, some of the most commonly used options with sausages are as below:

1. Sausages have been popular on a Breakfast table: A variety of sausages are used for breakfast be it English breakfast, American or the contemporary to the new world cuisine varieties, sausages are able to find their right place in grilled forms, saute, and cooked up on a hot griddle and dished out with eggs, baked beans etc. from hot dogs to frankfurters and the long list of international sausage varietals there have been a number of them being used. Some of the famous ones have included black pudding sausage and Scottish varieties being served for morning munchies.

2. Sausages are good to go in Soups, Salads, Stir-fries: Sausages are ideal to be used in a number of gourmet delicacies add them to your favorite choice of soup with veggies ideally with potatoes and some herbs, have them in the form of a broth with veggies in a well-flavored stock. Add sausages to your salad bowls, grill them, pan fry them, use the smoked varieties as well to add that special punch into a salad with a nice tart dressing to compliment it. Sausage stir-fries in combination with veggies, pulses, legume options, greens, beans, root veggies, etc also turn out to be good for brunch options.

3. Sausages in Baked & Roast dishes: Lace them in combination with choicest veggies and complimenting options in a creamy white sauce with cheese and set it into a baking dish, layer it with a twist of taste flavors, with pasta, noodles, rice, bread, and potatoes, etc. it turns out to be a yummy delight the moment it is browned at the top and has a nice crusty cheesy look. It has also been observed that sausages have also been a part of roast preparations be it a poultry roast like stuffed roast chicken with a stuffing of bread, herbs and sausages, or be it a roast turkey as well. A variety of sausages have been adding their delectable and robust flavor into roast preparations as well.

4. Sausages in bakery products: Baking variety of goodies with sausages is a great thing to do, talking of the varieties of pastry options, puff pastry, flaky pastry, shortcrust pastry, filo pastry, etc somehow they are all able to adapt themselves well with sausages in the form of fillings and stuffing since a long time now. Some of the all-time favorites include quiche, tarts, tartlets, filo-wrapped sausages, bread dough wrapped sausage delights, stuffing for a croissant, sausage and cheese puffs etc.

5. Sausages in Fusion recipes: one of the recent trends we have witnessed includes mix-n-match combination recipes with a little of this and a little of that dishing out a delicacy to excite the senses and treat the palate. Indian twist to sausages by tempering them, adding them to a curry, cooking them in a saute or stir fry format, simmering them into a desi coconut stew, adding them to a pulao, stuffing it into a samosa, wrapping it into a Kathi roll and more! besides when we talk of fusion we can also mix two of more cuisines as well for instance an Indo-Chinese sausage Tava pulao, an Indo- Mexican sausage peri-peri tortilla wrap, an Indo –Spanish sausage tapas platter with varied flavors. Today we also have a choice of vegan sausages as well to work with and they are simply awesome to try and include in our diets, recipes, and menus.

6. Sausages in Sandwiches, Pancakes Rolls and Wraps: while we relate crepes to be the original french variety of pancakes, they are thin and delicate which can be wrapped up with a variety of fillings using eggs and sausages, Akoori and the scrambled versions have also found their way all the way with sausages in pan rolls for brunches, savory sausage pancakes topped with an array of delectable toppings/sauces to go along from a live counter during festive occasions/ Sunday brunches etc. rolls, wraps and hot dog bread, subs have also been one of those options where sausages have been found popularly across the western part of the world. While in India we talk about our famous kathi rolls, Frankie’s etc having a sausage incorporated in them too would be a nice way to enjoy them for a change with a touch of spice and dash of robust flavors.

Here are a few of my favorite easy to dish out Recipes with Chicken Sausages:

Recipe-1] COCONUT CURRIED SAUSAGES

Ingredients:

Sausages- 250 gms, cut 1 x 3

Carrot-1 small cubed/sliced- blanched

Potato cubes-1 cup fried.

Oil- 2 tsp

Butter-1 tsp

Bay leaf- 1-2 no

Peppercorns- 3-4 no

Curry leaves- 4-5 no

Garlic- 1 tsp chopped

Ginger-1 tsp chopped

Green chilies-1 tsp chopped

Onions-1 cup chopped

Tomatoes-2-3 small puree

Salt to taste

Red chili paste-2 tsp

Coriander powder-1 tsp

Cumin powder-1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp

Garam masala powder-1/4 tsp

Coconut milk- 2 cups thick

Water-1/2 cup

Cashew paste-1 tsp

Coriander leaves-2 tbsp. chopped

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the coconut curried sausages.

2. Heat oil and butter in a pan add in the curry leaves, ginger, garlic, onions, green chilies, and saute for 2-3 mins.

3. Add in the tomato puree, red chili paste, salt, and all powdered spices and saute for 2-3 mins.

4. Add in little water and let the gravy cook for 5- 7 mins, add in the coconut milk and cashew paste, and simmer for 3-4 mins.

5. Finally add in the sausages and fried potatoes and allow them to simmer in the gravy for 5-7 mins, add coriander and serve hot.

Recipe-2] SAUSAGE AND SPINACH DUET

Ingredients:

Sausages- 250 gms, cut 1 x 3

Spinach leaves- 1 bunch, cleaned and blanched

Sweet potato- 1 cup, cubed and boiled.

Oil-2 tsp

Butter- 1 tsp

Cinnamon stick- 1-inch piece

Cloves- 3-4 no

Dry red chilies-1-2 no slit

Green chilies-1-2 slit

Ginger-garlic paste-1 tsp

Onion-1 small chopped

Tomato- 1 small chopped

Salt to taste

Black pepper powder to taste

Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp

Mixed herbs-1/2 tsp

Chili flakes-1/2 tsp

Garam masala powder-1/4 tsp

Water-1/4 cup

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the sausage and spinach duet.

2. Heat oil and butter in a pan add in the cinnamon stick and cloves.

3. Add in the ginger-garlic paste, red chilies, green chilies, onion and cumin seeds, saute for 1-2 mins.

4. Now add in the tomato, salt, and all powdered spices, herbs, chili flakes and little water and cook for 2-3 mins.

5. Add in the sausages, spinach and potatoes and cover, simmer for 3-5 mins and serve hot.

Recipe-3] SAUSAGE SANDWICH FIESTA

Ingredients:

Sausages- 4-6 no, cut 1 x 2 lengthwise

Hot dog rolls/ bread- 3- 4 no

Butter-2 tsp to spread on the bread

Oil- 2 tsp

Garlic- 1 tsp chopped

Onion-1 small chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Mustard paste-1 tsp

Red chili sauce-1 tsp

Tomato ketchup-2-3 tsp

Chopped parsley-2 tsp

To add on into the sandwich roll:

Mustard mayonnaise-2-3 tsp

Cheese slices-2-3 no

Sliced onions- 2-4 slices

Coleslaw- ¼ cup

Tomato-1 sliced

Cucumber-1/2 sliced

Gherkins- 2-3 slices

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the sausage sandwich recipe.

2. Slit open the hot dog rolls and warm them on a non-stick pan/ griddle apply little butter and keep aside.

3. Heat oil in a pan add in the garlic, onions and saute it for 2 mins, add in the sausages and stir fry them on a high flame for 1 min.

4. Add in the mustard paste and all other sauces and coat them well on the sausages, cook for a minute and turn off the flame, add chopped parsley.

5. Place the saucy coated sausages in between the slit rolls and add more spreads/ sauces etc as needed and also place slices of assorted veggies, gherkins etc as listed to add more color, texture, crunch and freshness to the sandwich. Serve hot.

Recipe- 4] SAUSAGE MEXICANA 

Ingredients:

Sausages- 250 gms, cut 1 x 3

Oil-1 tsp

Butter- 1 tsp

Star anise- 1-2 no

Garlic- 1 tsp chopped 

Onion-1 small chopped

Refried beans/ kidney beans- 1 cup boiled

Green capsicum- ½ no chopped

Jalapeno peppers- 2-3 tsp sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

Cumin powder-1/2 tsp

Coriander powder-1 tsp

Red/ yellow capsicums-1/2 cup shredded

Water/stock-1/2 cup

Tomato puree- ½ cup

Tomato ketchup-2 tsp

Red chili sauce-2 tsp

Mixed herbs-1/2 tsp

Chili flakes-1/2 tsp

Boneless chicken cubes- 1 cup or paneer cubes/tofu- 1 cup

Parsley/coriander/ basil leaves- 2 -3 tsp

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the sausage Mexicana recipe.

2. Heat oil and butter in a pan add in the star anise, garlic, onion and saute for 1-2 mins, add in the tomato puree, salt, pepper, herbs, spices or use Mexican peri-peri spice powder to taste and saute for 1-2 mins, add little water and simmer for 2-3 mins.

3. Add in the chicken cubes, allow to cook for 5-7 mins, add in the kidney beans, tofu or paneer at this stage if being used in case of veg- do not mix with non-veg in the same recipe.

4. Add in the sausages and all the other sauces, seasonings and mix well, simmer for 3-6 mins, add in the colorful capsicums and mix well. Also add in the jalapenos, fresh herbs/ grated cheese/ sour cream on top as desired before serving.

5. Serve this recipe along with Mexican fried rice/ french bread / herbed garlic rolls etc.

Recipe- 5] STIR-FRIED SAUSAGES

Ingredients:

Sausages- 250 gms, cut 1 x 3

Oil-2 tsp

Butter-1 tsp

Peppercorns- 3-4 no

Slit green chilies-2-3 no

Spring onions- 1 cup sliced

Red capsicum-1/2 no shredded

Green capsicum-1/2 no shredded

Yellow capsicum-1/2 no shredded

Celery-1 stalk cut

Salt and pepper to taste

Soy sauce- 2-3 tsp

Red chili sauce- 2 tsp

Green chili sauce-2 tsp

Honey-2 tsp

White vinegar-2 tsp

Sugar-1 pinch

Schezuan sauce/hot garlic sauce-2 tsp

Water-1/2 cup

Corn starch solution-2-3 tsp

Assorted greens for garnish-1/4 cup or spring onions- chopped.

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the stir fried sausages.

2. Heat oil and butter in a pan add in the peppercorns, slit green chilies, sliced spring onions and saute for 2 mins.

3. Add in the sausages and capsicums, salt, pinch of sugar and pepper to taste, stir fry them on a high flame for 1-2 min.

4. Add in the sauces to taste as listed/ as per choice and mix, add little water and allow to cook for 3-4 mins.

5. Finally add in some corn starch solution and thicken it up a little to coat the sausages in the pan.

6. Serve hot garnished with assorted greens/ spring onion greens.

Recipe- 6] SAUSAGE PEPPER TARTS

Ingredients

Sausages- 250 gms, cut into small pieces

Oil-1 tsp

Butter-1 tsp

Garlic-1 tsp chopped

Shallots- 3-4 chopped

Celery-1 stalk chopped

Assorted capsicums-1/2 cup fine chopped

White sauce-1/2 cup

Cheese-2-3 tbsp. grated

Ready to use Tart shells- 10-15 no

Peanut butter-2 tsp

Water-2-3 tbsp.

Mixed herbs-1/2 tsp

Capsico sauce- 1 tsp

Parsley-1 tbsp. chopped

Olives- 3-4 sliced

Method:

1. Assemble all the ingredients for the sausage tarts.

2. Heat oil and butter in a pan and saute the garlic, shallots, celery for a minute, add in the capsicums and sausages, and stir for 1 min.

3. Add in the salt, pepper, herbs, peanut butter, and little water and mix it all up, cook for 2-3 mins.

4. Once the sausages are nicely coated with the mixture lastly add in the Capsico sauce, a little white sauce for a creamy texture.

5. Fill the tart shells with this sausage mixture and top with olives, grated cheese and bake in the oven for 2-3 mins and serve hot as a snack.