Glamorgan sausage facts for kids
A Glamorgan sausage
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| Alternative names | Welsh: Selsig Morgannwg |
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| Type | Sausage |
| Place of origin | Wales |
| Main ingredients | Cheese, leeks |
| Ingredients generally used | Breadcrumbs |
| Variations | Onions |
Glamorgan sausage (Welsh: Selsig Morgannwg) is a traditional Welsh vegetarian sausage. Its main ingredients are cheese (usually Caerphilly), leeks, and breadcrumbs. This tasty dish is named after Glamorgan, a historic county in Wales.
The first time this dish was written about was in the 1850s. It appeared in a book called Wild Wales by George Borrow. However, older notes show a version that actually contained pork. The modern vegetarian version became very popular during the Second World War. This was because meat was hard to find back then. Today, you can even find Glamorgan sausages made in factories. You can also find different versions. Some use onions instead of leeks, and others have various herbs or spices.
Contents
History of Glamorgan Sausage
We don't know exactly when Glamorgan sausages were first made. Some old notes from the Glamorgan Archives show that early recipes might have included meat. For example, a notebook from the late 1700s or early 1800s describes a recipe with pork. This older recipe also used different spices like cloves, sage, and ginger.
The writer George Borrow wrote about Glamorgan sausages in his book Wild Wales. He wrote this book in the 1850s. He said they were just as good as Epping sausages, which were meat sausages without a skin. Borrow enjoyed these sausages during his travels in Wales.
Glamorgan sausages became very popular during the Second World War. This was because food was rationed, and meat was scarce. People needed good vegetarian options. An old cookbook from the 1950s even promoted the sausage. It showed how to make them without needing a specific type of cheese.
Originally, Glamorgan sausages might have been made with a special Glamorgan cheese. This cheese came from a type of cow called Glamorgan cattle. Sadly, these cows almost disappeared, so that cheese is no longer made.
How to Make Glamorgan Sausages
Modern Glamorgan sausages usually use Caerphilly cheese. This cheese is similar to the old Glamorgan cheese. It gives the sausages a great texture and flavor.
Basic Recipe
The main ingredients are cheese, leeks, and breadcrumbs. You mix them all together. Then, you shape the mixture into sausage-like rolls. These rolls are then fried until they are golden brown.
You don't need a sausage casing for Glamorgan sausages. An egg is often used to help bind the mixture. This stops the sausages from falling apart when they cook.
Different Ways to Make Them
There are many ways to change up the basic Glamorgan sausage recipe.
- Some recipes swap leeks for onions or spring onions.
- You can add herbs like parsley or flavorings like mustard.
- The Hairy Bikers (famous chefs) suggest using Welsh cheddar cheese. They also like serving the sausages with a red onion and chilli pepper relish.
- Some recipes use different kinds of breadcrumbs. You can even use a mix of boiled potatoes and breadcrumbs for the coating.
How you cook the leeks can also change. Some people mix them in raw, which makes the sausage crunchier. Others cook the leeks first in a frying pan. This makes them softer. Different chefs also use various herbs like sage or thyme. For frying, some recipes suggest lard, while others use vegetable oil or butter.
See also
In Spanish: Salchicha de Glamorgan para niños
