Alternative To Merguez Sausages

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Nigella's Merguez Meatballs (from SIMPLY NIGELLA) are easy and quick to make as Nigella makes the meatballs from the filling of merguez sausages and the rich sauce from tomatoes and chargrilled peppers (roasted red peppers). Merguez sausages are spicy sausages that originally came from North Africa. They are usually made from lamb or beef and slightly spicy, being flavoured with a mixture of herbs, spices and also with the spicy chilli paste called harissa.

If you do not specifically need to stick with lamb or beef then you can choose a suitable pork sausage alternative from your local butcher or supermarket. Some sell sausages that are flavoured with smoked paprika (chorizo style sausage, though chorizo itself would probably be a little too rich) or with fennel and garlic. A more labour intensive alternative would be to use some ground or minced lamb and season it with salt, pepper plus cumin, fennel and paprika to your own taste. If you have some harissa then you could mix some of this in too, starting cautiously as it can be quite spicy. Fry a teaspoonful of the lamb mixture in a small frying pan to taste and see if the seasoning needs adjusting.