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How much harissa?
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 23:34
by Zyggy
I would like to make a few merquez sausages and instead of the spices use the harissa blend. Can someboby help me with amount I need? Making 3lbs. And on the ingrediends it says that there already is salt. So do I reduce my salt? Thanks for your help.
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 13:44
by Bob K
Tough one to answer Ziggy!
I would take the total weight/volume of spices in the original recipe and add that amount of harissa blend.Then fry a piece for a taste test and adjust the salt and spices accordingly.
As it a fresh sausage salt is not a safety issue, just to taste.
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 18:22
by redzed
Timely question Zyggy, I too have been looking at making merguez for some time. It's something I have never made and a few days ago while in Montreal I bought a few links to try at a Lebanese butcher shop that had a big sign proclaiming to have "the best merguez in Montreal". And indeed, it was quite tasty and interesting, but being a kielbasa head, I have not tasted too many, so I don't know whether it was the best?
A couple of our members posted recipes with harissa that they blended themselves so you might want to look at them. I also bought some prepared harissa and while it does say it contains salt, I don't think it is a large amount, so an adjustment for it would be minimal, if any.
http://wedlinydomowe.pl/en/viewtopic.php?p=11569#11569
http://wedlinydomowe.pl/en/viewtopic.php?p=18616#18616
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 07:12
by redzed
Len Poli has a recipe for a 2lb. batch using harissa paste. You can easily adjust it to your 3lbs. And it looks like a nice recipe, without the binders and phosphates that he often includes in his formulations.
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 16:23
by Zyggy
Thanks redzed. The POli recipe looks good to me. Will give it a go tomorrow.