Ukrainian Sausage

Step 1

Cut the meat and fat into 3/8" to 1/2" (about 1 cm) pieces.

Step 2

In a mortar or by hand, break bay leaves into small pieces.

Step 3

Peel and press garlic into a separate mortar. You may use whole cloves but it will be easier if you press it first.

Step 4

Add salt, bay leaf pieces and ground pepper to the garlic.

Step 5

Pound with a pestle until some garlic is liquefied and the mass looks wet and homogeneous.

Step 6

Add the garlic to the meat in a large mixing bowl.

Step 7

Mix well until the meat is sticky, about 5-8 minutes.

Step 8

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.

Step 9

Heat two tablespoons of butter with a tablespoon of olive oil in two cast iron or carbon steel pans.

Step 10

Sear each sausage over medium heat until you see good browning, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 11

Using a spatula and your other hand, flip each sausage and continue searing for another 2-3 minutes.

Step 12

Transfer to an oven preheated to 325F and bake for 20-30 minutes or until the sausage registers at least 160F inside.

Step 13

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.