Anyway, I digress ...
Here is the recipe, hope it is ok to post, credit goes entirely to the above mentioned resources, although I have included a few of my own additions. I have added measurements for our American friends but I find with sausage making it is best to weigh the ingredients as many things (kosher salt) can vary depending on brands and weighing is much more accurate.
Andouille
- Pork Butt: 2kg or 4.4lbs
- Kosher Salt: 32g or 5.5tsp
- Cure #1: 5g or 1tsp (maybe a little less)
- Sweet Paprika: 7g or 1Tbsp
- Crushed Red Pepper: 2g or 1tsp
- Cracked Black Pepper: 12g or 6tsp
- Chopped Garlic: 20g or 6 cloves
- Dried Thyme: 4g or 3tsp
- Cayenne Pepper: 4g or 2tsp
- Dextrose: 5g or 1tsp
- Ice Water: 200g or 3/4 cup
- Optional: 8g Mega Phos - This is a phosphate binder that aids in water retention. I add it as optional because some home cooks don't have access to or don't want to use additional chemicals such as this. I personally prefer the texture and juiciness that it adds but never fear, if you don't want to use it don't. The alternative is an 1/8 of a cup of dry milk powder.
Instructions:
1. Grind half the meat on medium, making sure it is semi-frozen to prevent it smearing and clogging up your grinder. The other half you should hand chop to quarter inch chunks. This is purely textural, if you prefer to grind it all go right ahead, but the extra work pays off.
2. Mix meat with all dry ingredients, adding water after the first mix. Mix until sticky and evenly distributed throughout the meat.
3. Stuff into 38-40mm hog casings. You can leave it as one big rope or link it into 6-8" links.
4. Hang at room temperature for 2 hours or, if you are doing this ahead of time before smoking, hang in the fridge and leave over night uncovered. This second method gives the cure some time to start doing its job but I have done both and both work fine.
5. Hot smoke for 2-3 hours. Alternatively, I cold smoked mine for 6 hours, then finished in an electric oven at 150f for 45 mins then 170f for half an hour until an I.T. of 155 was reached. For this batch I used pecan and a little cherry wood.
6. Cold shower or bath immediately after removing from the heat source for 5 minutes or so to cool the sausage and prevent shrinking.
7. Hang at room temperature for 2 hours to "bloom" then refrigerate until needed or semi freeze and vac pack for another date.
I have also included a few pics below. I'm making some gumbo later tonight so I will update with some sliced shots and some gumbo pron then.
The Lineup:
Mixed and Ready to Stuff:
Prior to Linking:
Ice Bath:
Blooming After the Bath:
Get the red beans and rice cooking.
