Saturday, October 26, 2013

Holiday Treats: Blood Sausage!

Throughout Europe, Asia, and Central and South America blood sausages, also known as blood pudding or black pudding, are part of the everyday staple diet. But not so here in America.

Depending on the particular culture the ingredients begin with raw blood from farm animals or wild game and fowl, and will include such fillers as onions, rice, buckwheat, rye flour, barley, oatmeal, even potatoes to absorb the liquid - plus a wide range of spices. During the holidays special ingredients such as apples, nuts, raisins, and cream can be added to make it an extra-special treat. It can be served like a pudding in neat little rounds or squares, or squeezed into a sausage casing.

My rich employers like to try exotic fare and prefer costly artisan sausages of course - their favorite recipe being venison blood, wild rice, pinion nuts and French cognac within the sausage, and a wild-mushroom sauce on top.

For some reason however, blood sausage never really made it big in the United States. I'm not sure why that is, but I suspect it has something to do with the Puritans who introduced many elements that underlie the American culture. Perhaps they had an abhorrence to pagan blood sacrifices. Who knows?

Having said that, you can find it in many ethnic neighborhoods across America. Or you can get on Google and ask "where to buy blood sausage" in your city. Some of these specialty shops, if paid well enough, will make your recipe to order. Which is precisely what I resort to since I'm not about to make it myself.

It's not really hard to prepare, but it's time consuming and will cost you a fortune. It requires a full-service butcher shop (very rare in America) that offers up every part of the animal from brains and stomachs to tongue and blood - and you might pay a hundred bucks for a gallon of fresh blood. If you're adventurous and dedicated to your job as butler you might find a local slaughter house that would let you fill up a gallon of fresh blood yourself - which I'm not about to do. I'd rather find a new job in a house full of Puritans.

But if you're looking for something unique and exotic to serve for the holidays you might give a thought to blood puddings - served in neat little rounds or squares, or squeezed inside a sausage casing - and they can be bland, spicy, or sweet, depending on your event and palate. Indeed, if some of your family members or friends have any noticeable vampire tendencies, whether overt or latent, this might be just the thing.

Best wishes during your holiday preparations,

Andrew

10 comments:

  1. Contemplating whether or not to buy blood by the gallon is definitely a different side of the butler life. I wonder if they charge a premium for blood that came from only one animal... bleh.

    I spent a few weeks in Ireland and tried the blood sausage twice, then turned it down thereafter. I was satisfied with the 3-4 *other* kinds of meat that come with a full Irish breakfast.

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    1. And Irish blood sausage is supposed to be up there with the best! What do I know? My first attempt was in Caracas, but the recipe was so bland and unfamiliar that I thought I was actually tasting the blood! omg! And I haven't ventured further.

      Are there blood sausages in Australia? I would think yes, in such a haphazardly-civilized sort of place.

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  2. No Thank You !!!!!KEK

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  3. Some members of my family are vampiric in nature, but suck money instead of blood. Excellent post as always Andrew.

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    1. Sadly hysterical, Justin!

      You poor guy! Hang in there, and stand your ground. Do you think a garlic necklace would work?

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  4. Interesting topic. Where my parents are from (Slovenia), it's a tradition to have it for Mardi Gras. I can eat it that one day of the year and then I'm good until next year. lol - Joe

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    1. Ha! I totally understand, Joe. Once a year is entirely adequate, as far as I'm concerned, if not an overdoes.

      But the advantage of having it on Mardi Gras day is obvious -- with all the free-flowing booze on that day, you don't really know what you're eating, and could care less! Stop by anytime, Joe.

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  5. You Missed It! Last week Jay Leno coerced Tonight Show guest and
    Broadway Star of Wicked, Kristen Chenowith into
    consuming 'blood pudding'...in exchange for a $3000 Donation
    to her favorite charity! (It was almost her last 'Performance'.!.).
    She almost choked on it live on TV.
    It definitely was not the best publicity for Blood Pudding...!

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    1. Hysterical! Thanks for telling me that! I better keep an eye on Leno and see if he swipes any more of my material! Ha!

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