Boudin Noir, Black pudding, Biroldo, no matter what moniker it travels under, blood sausage has roots all over the world. A favorite for its deeply savory and complex flavor, each country seemingly has its own interpretation of this delightful if somewhat gory sausage.
A staple of French charcuterie boards, a necessity in Italian dishes, and a favorite among the British, blood sausage hasn’t experienced the same popularity in the United States. In fact, you may even find yourself wondering what is blood sausage exactly?
Depending on where your blood sausage is coming from, you’ll find there is a range of possible fillings and spices, but the throughline of all of them is, of course, copious amounts of blood. In Estonia, they make a blood sausage out of barley and blood while England favors oats. In Italy, their sausages are spiked with raisins, pine nuts, and fennel for a flavorful interpretation.
While many are squeamish at the prospect of eating blood, it is a uniquely perfect ingredient for sausage making. Acting in much the same way as egg whites blood is an excellent binder. As it’s cooked it coagulates, keeping everything in the sausage held together and preventing a crumbly banger. Raw Boudin Noir should be eaten within a day or two after purchase, however, our pre-cooked varieties keep well refrigerated for up to two weeks, making them much more convenient for the average home cook.
Our Boudin Noir links are prepared in California in the traditional, southern French way. This blood sausage is made of pork blood, onions, and flavored with a gamut of spices. In France, Boudin Noir is prepared fried or grilled and served with hearty potatoes or caramelized apples. We recommend enjoying these sausages in much the same way. Sliced into rounds, sauté your blood sausages in a little butter until warmed through. They’ll develop a wonderfully crispy exterior and turn pitch black as the blood oxidizes. Offering a dynamic look and singularly delicious taste, don't wait another minute to try these delightful blood sausages for yourself!
Want to dig deeper? Check out our How To Cook Sausage guide and learn the ins and outs of cooking sausages!