RECIPE: Smoked Venison Kidney Sausages
Brined, mixed, stuffed, twisted, then smoked- these hand-crafted Venison Kidney Sausages by Chef Brian are wildly flavorful, nourishing, and far from any ordinary link. Try it in any recipe that calls for sausage or can be used as an exotic hotdog. Chef Brian also notes that it tastes excellent in Caldo Verde or Portuguese soup.
Brian Hirata
Ingredients
- 1 lb Maui Nui Ground venison organ blend
- 6 Maui Nui venison kidneys, cubed 1/2” pieces
- 8 oz pork fat (or pre-ground pork fat)
- 2.8 grams kosher salt
- 1/8 tsp sugar
- 2 g. garlic, finely minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 g. #1 curing salt
- 21 g. ice water
- 2 inch pork casing
DIRECTIONS
Mix all brine ingredients together. Set aside.
Rinse kidneys off in cold water and remove white artery. Then cut into 1/2” pieces.
Place kidneys into the brine solution and refrigerate overnight. (This will help leech off excess blood and cure them at the same time).
Meanwhile, grind pork fat on a medium-size grinding plate and place it in a large mixing bowl
Add remaining ingredients except for ice water and pork casings into the bowl.
Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, mix on low speed for about 2 minutes, while slowly pouring in the ice water to emulsify.
Once emulsified, place into a non-reactive container and refrigerate overnight to cure.
Remove kidneys from the brine solution and hot smoke between (160°-180° F) for 35 minutes. Then chill to 40° F.
*Note This step really helps to remove the metallic flavors of the kidneys.
Once cool, fold into sausage mixture and stuff into pork casings.
Make links into desired length and hot smoke between (160°-180° F) for 45 minutes, or when internal temperature reaches 155° F.
Serve immediately or chill for later use.
*Note Can also be left uncased and cooked like fresh loose sausage.