Lamb merguez sausages

Found lamb Merguez sausages at the Stanstead Farm Shop which look interesting

Common throughout North Africa but believed to originate in the Bedouin tribes in Morocco. The sausage is generally long and thin like breakfast links. Made from lamb or beef using sheep casings which are smaller in diameter. Merguez however, is one of those sausages which has many variations. Some use all lamb, others all beef. Sometimes lashings of garlic, some loaded with hot spices, if not both. But it is the harissa that makes it distinctive. Giving it, its characteristic red color, and spicy kick.

Harissa is a Tunisian chili mix, made differently from family to family but primarily of ground serano or birds eye chillies and cumin. Garlic paste, coriander, caraway, red peppers, lemon juice, sumac, fennel are all commonly used and it can sometimes have a smoky flavor.

The sausage can be found in Israel, throughout the Middle East, northern Europe and most notably in France, where it has been absorbed into popular French street culture. Served freshly grilled in a baguette, lathered with mustard or mayonnaise, and filled with salty French fries.