Sausages are an important part of people’s everyday meals. Although they were considered a breakfast item at one point, multiple recipes that can be consumed at any time of the day involve sausages now.
Sausages have different types, and each type has its own unique flavor. Due to their different flavors, each type of sausage is ideal for different recipes.
One of the most widely used sausages in the world is Kielbasa. But there are still parts of the world where it isn’t easily available.
If you cant find Kielbasa, you can use one of its substitutes.
Kielbasa Substitutes
Kielbasa is a pork sausage that you can buy in both fresh and pre-cooked forms. It is a Polish variety of sausages and is an important part of the country’s culture.
A lot of local dishes include Kielbasa as one of the integral ingredients. These sausages can be cut up for serving, and then added to stews and soups. They are also served in whole links.
In some recipes, Kielbasa can be added solely for flavoring purposes. Kielbasa has a softer texture and is known as the summer sausage. Although mainly sold as a pork sausage, Kielbasa also has turkey and beef variants.
The variants allow people to use Kielbasa in recipes that don’t require pork sausages. But if you can’t get Kielbasa anywhere, you don’t need to panic.
You can choose from one of the many substitutes for this sausage and add it as an ingredient in your recipe. Now, let’s have a look at these substitutes for Kielbasa!
1. Andouille Sausage
Andouille sausage is a French sausage that is made after heavy smoking. This feature differentiates Andouille sausage from Kielbasa, but it can still work as a substitute for the latter.
Generally, Andouille sausage is made from pork, but there are other variants available as well. The other variants of the sausage are helpful for people who don’t like pork.
But if you are on a diet, it is important to read the fat information on the label before buying Andouille sausage. The reason behind this is that certain variants of this sausage have more fat than other variants.
If you are from the United States, you would know andouille sausage as Cajun, which you can find easily in markets. Cajun sausage is also served to guests in different restaurants.
If you want the sausage in raw form, you can buy it from the market. But if you want to be served cooked sausages, you can turn to a restaurant.
It’s important to outline that andouille sausage can be pretty spicy and will add heat to the recipes. So, if you are not used to spicy food or your dish doesn’t require additional spice, you should use some other substitute from this list.
This sausage is widely used in Italy, France, Germany, and the United States. However, it might be available in Italy as ‘Nduja. Also, the Italian version has a higher red pepper content.
Andouille sausage has a powerful flavor, so be mindful of that before adding it to a dish. You can also try the sausage on its own first to make sure it suits your palate.
2. Mexican Chorizo
Mexican chorizo is a substitute for Kielbasa sausage that is made with finely ground pork. The unique flavor of Mexican chorizo comes from local spices.
The strong flavor of the sausage is actually what makes it the perfect replacement for Kielbasa sausage. However, the texture of Mexican chorizo might be different than Kielbasa (Mexican chorizo tends to have a finer texture).
But if you can ignore the texture and focus on enjoying the taste of the dish, you would know that adding Mexican chorizo to it was the right decision.
Like other sausages, there are different variants of Mexican chorizo. The reason behind the making of different variants is that people who don’t eat pork can also enjoy certain dishes.
It is available in markets in raw form but dried as well as loose varieties are also available. It can replace Kielbasa sausage in a 1:1 ratio.
3. German Smoked Sausages
German sausages are known for their extremely delicious taste. German smoked sausages tend to have a delectable taste and scent.
Out of all of the different smoked sausages from Germany, Bratwurst is the most popular. It is made with a combination of minced pork and beef. The mixture has marjoram spices and caraway. It can be served with condiments and mustard.
As the name suggests, the sausage is smoked before cooking. As for the flavor, it’s pretty intense and strong, which makes it a fine replacement. All in all, it can substitute Kielbasa in a 1:1 ratio.
It is important to remember that Bratwurst has both pork and beef. So, if your recipe changes drastically because of the beef in the sausages, you can choose another substitute from this list.
You can also look for beef and turkey varieties of German smoked sausages if you want to make the dish without pork.
4. Venison Sausage
Venison sausage is made from deer meat which is pretty lean. Deer meat is mixed with fat, herbs, salt, spices, and liquids for making this sausage. However, some variants of venison sausages are also made with pork, lamb, and beef meat.
This sausage is actually healthy since it has a higher amount of minerals and vitamins with a low-fat count. Since it’s made from lean meat, the flavor will be pretty distinct as compared to different red meats.
As far as the texture and taste are concerned, it has an earthy and rich flavor. It tends to be less succulent and juicy as compared to beef. In addition, it is pretty firm and smooth.
If you have never tried deer meat before, you shouldn’t add Venison sausages to a dish. It is important to make sure that you will enjoy the sausage before you begin preparing the dish and wasting your efforts.
You can buy a small quantity of Venison sausage and try it to make sure deer meat suits your taste. If you are convinced by the taste, then you can use this sausage as a substitute for Kielbasa.
5. Tofu Sausages
For people who want a vegetarian substitute for Kielbasa sausage, tofu sausage is the right choice. There are smoked as well as unsmoked versions available.
Tofu sausages have an intense and rich flavor. People can also smoke the sausage with a smoking gun. The best thing about tofu sausage is that it can be made at home.
It makes a fine addition to elegant recipes but can also be used as pizza topping and stuffing. In addition, it can be wrapped in a tortilla.
One of the best things about this substitute is that it allows vegetarians to enjoy dishes that otherwise they would not have gotten a chance to try.
It is also a healthy option as it does not include fat or meat of any kind. Even if you are not a vegetarian, you can add tofu sausages to a dish if you are not in the mood for meat.
Bottom Line
Finding the right substitute for an ingredient sometimes requires you to do a lot of research. It is important to keep your preferred taste in mind. It is also important to know what kind of flavor you want in your dish.
These questions can help you narrow down a lot of substitutes available for an ingredient. You can also try some of the substitutes yourself to find out more about their taste.
The substitutes of Kielbasa mentioned above are all equally delicious. They have certain unique characteristics that make them different from each other.
You can choose the substitute that fits your recipe’s requirements and is kind to your taste buds.