Andouille Sausage Food

ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Soak the casing in cold water for about an hour to soften it and loosen the salt in which it is packed. Place the wide end of the sausage stuffer up against the sink faucet and run cold water through the inside of the casing to remove excess salt.
• Cut the meat and fat into 1/2-inch wide chunks. Pass them once through the coarse blade of a meat grinder. In a large bowl, mix together the ground pork and fat with the garlic, salt, pepper, cayenne, thyme, paprika, bay leaf, sage, and hickory smoke. A wooden spoon works well.
• Cut the casing into 26 inch lengths and tie a small knot in one end of each. Fit the open end over the tip of the sausage stuffer and slide it on until the tip of the stuffer touches the knot. The casing will look like accordion folds. This keeps excess air from getting into the casings. Fit the stuffer onto the meat grinder or according the directions that come with the stuffer, or hold the wide end of the stuffer against or over the opening by hand.
• Fill the hopper with the sausage mixture. Turn the machine on if it is electric and feed the stuffing gradually into the hopper; for a manual machine, push the stuffing through with a wooden pestle. The sausage casing will fill and inflate gradually. Stop filling about 1 1/4 inches from the funnel end and slip the casing off the funnel, smoothing out any bumps carefully with your fingers and being careful not to push the stuffing out of the casing. Tie off the open end of the sausage tightly with a piece of string or make a knot in the casing itself.
• To cook, slice the sausage into half-inch rounds and grill in a hot skillet with no water for about 12 minutes on each side, or until brown and crisp at the edges.

ONE POT ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE SKILLET PASTA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic, onion and sausage, and cook, stirring frequently, until sausage is lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes, milk and pasta; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked through, about 12-14 minutes. Remove from heat and top with cheese. Cover until cheese has melted, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE JAMBALAYA

Steps:

• Mix flour and seasonings in shallow dish. Add chicken; turn to coat both sides of each thigh. Heat oil in Dutch oven or large deep skillet on medium heat. Add 4 chicken thighs; cook 4 min. on each side or until each is golden brown on both sides. Transfer to plate, reserving drippings in pan. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Add onions, green peppers and garlic to drippings in pan; cook and stir 5 min. Stir in tomatoes, barbecue sauce and sausage. Return chicken and any juices from plate to tomato mixture; simmer 25 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF), stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, bring broth to boil in medium saucepan. Stir in rice; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 20 min. or until broth is absorbed and rice is tender.
• Add shrimp to tomato mixture; simmer 8 min. or until shrimp turn pink.
• Spoon rice into shallow bowls; top with chicken mixture and parsley.

CAJUN CAULIFLOWER RICE WITH ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE

Steps:

• If making the DIY Cajun spice blend, add all of the spices to a small bowl, mix together and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add diced onions, celery, and bell peppers to the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes to begin softening the vegetables.
• Add sliced sausage to skillet and cook for about 7 minutes more until sausage is cooked through and browned.
• Add cauliflower rice and Cajun spice blend to the skillet and stir to combine.
• Cover and cook for about 5 minutes. There's no need to stir.
• Uncover and top with optional garnish, such as parsley or green onions.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Mix together in large pot the broth, 1 cup of water, beans, tomato, onion, and garlic. Heat mixture to a simmer.
• Slice and cook sausage in a seperate pan with 1/2 cup water.
• Add sausage, spinach,pastina, and spices to pot.
• Continue to cook on low heat for 1 hour. Stirring occasionally.
• Serve with bread.

HOMEMADE ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Combine the pork, pork fat, Essence, paprika, garlic, black pepper, salt, file, chili powder, red pepper, and cumin in a large bowl and mix well. Pass through a food grinder fitted with a coarse die. (Alternately, transfer in 2 batches to a food processor and process until finely ground.) Transfer to a large bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• To test the seasoning, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a small skillet, and cook about 2 teaspoons of the mixture. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
• Using the sausage attachment on a mixer, stuff the meat into the casings, if being used. Twist and tie off to make 4-inch sausages. Alternately, shape into patties.
• Preheat a home smoker to 250 degrees F. Smoke the sausage for 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the smoker and use as desired.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.