Ukrainian Sausage Recipes

UKRAINIAN HOMEMADE SAUSAGE (KOVBASA)

Steps:

• Grind pork coarsely, once.
• Bone and chill beef.
• With a very sharp knife, dice 2 pounds beef into 1/4 inch cubes.
• Dice 1/2 pound fat similarly and grind the other 1/2 pound of fat.
• Mix meats and fat in a large bowl.
• Mash peeled garlic with salt in a mortar,and add pepper and allspice.
• Mix all ingredients.
• Add 1 cup water for each 2 pounds of meat, then add whiskey.
• Cook a small sample in a little boiling water.
• Taste and adjust seasoning (be conservative with the salt).
• Wash casing in cold water, rinsing several times.
• Carefully thread 1 yard of casing over a sausage funnel and stuff, taking care not to leave air pockets.
• Do not pack or sausages will burst while cooking.
• Tie ends with string.
• Repeat until all meat is used.
• Refrigerate, loosely covered with towel, for 48 hours.
• Sausage may be smoked (following smoker directions) or cooked fresh.
• TO COOK FRESH, simmer gently in a wide pot one-third full of water until cooked through, about 30-40 minutes.
• Drain, cool, and refrigerate loosely covered.
• TO SERVE, saute in a little fat for color.
• Or serve cold in thin diagonal slices.
• NOTE: Peperivka, cayenne-flavored whiskey, is made by soaking 10 whole red cayenne peppers in a pint of blended whiskey or bourbon for at least 48 hours.

UKRAINIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Cut the meat and fat into 3/8" to 1/2" (about 1 cm) pieces.
• In a mortar or by hand, break bay leaves into small pieces.
• Peel and press garlic into a separate mortar. You may use whole cloves but it will be easier if you press it first.
• Add salt, bay leaf pieces and ground pepper to the garlic.
• Pound with a pestle until some garlic is liquefied and the mass looks wet and homogeneous.
• Add the garlic to the meat in a large mixing bowl.
• Mix well until the meat is sticky, about 5-8 minutes.
• Stuff the seasoned meat into 38-40mm hog or beef casings. Tie the sausage on both ends and form a spiral. You can also make a few smaller sausages. Prickle the surface with a needle to eliminate air pockets.
• Heat two tablespoons of butter with a tablespoon of olive oil in two cast iron or carbon steel pans.
• Sear each sausage over medium heat until you see good browning, about 3-4 minutes.
• Using a spatula and your other hand, flip each sausage and continue searing for another 2-3 minutes.
• Transfer to an oven preheated to 325F and bake for 20-30 minutes or until the sausage registers at least 160F inside.
• Remove from the oven, carefully transfer to a large cutting board, let rest for 5 minutes, slice or cut into pieces and serve with your favorite side dish.

SPICY UKRANIAN SAUSAGE PATTIES (KOVBASA)

Steps:

• Make sure your meats have been put through a fine grinder. Combine all ingredients thoroughly including seasonings. Pinch off a small piece and fry, to taste for seasoning. Form into 2 1/2-inch patties and saute in oil until brown.

UKRAINIAN SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the cream cheese, butter and garlic. Spread some of this onto each slice of bread. Place a slice of sausage, cucumber, and tomato onto each piece of bread, then top each one with some chopped egg. Serve open-faced.

UKRAINIAN RED BORSCHT SOUP

Steps:

• Crumble the sausage (if using) into a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until no longer pink. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Fill a large pot halfway with water(about 2 quarts), and bring to a boil. Add the sausage, and cover the pot. Return to a boil. Add the beets, and cook until they have lost their color. Add the carrots and potatoes, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Add the cabbage, and the can of diced tomatoes.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook until tender. Stir in the tomato paste and water until well blended. Transfer to the pot. Add the raw garlic to the soup, cover and turn off the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Taste, and season with salt, pepper and sugar.
• Ladle into serving bowls, and garnish with sour cream, if desired, and fresh parsley.

UKRAINIAN SAUSAGE NOODLE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat, saute the onions for 5 minutes, add mushrooms continue sauting for 4 minutes more.
• Add celery, peppers, green onions, continue to saute for another 3 minutes.
• Add soup& hot sauce, mix well.
• Add sausage & Noodles ,remove from heat.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Lightly grease a 9"x9"x3", Pour in the casserole mix.
• Cover and bake for 30 minutes, remove cover& sprinkle on the onion flakes.
• Return to the oven for 15 minutes to brown the flakes and finish cooking.
• Serve Hot.