Heart-Healthy Homemade Merguez Sausage

Elevate your mealtime with this Heart-Healthy Homemade Merguez Sausage, a flavorful twist on the North African classic, made guilt-free with lean ground turkey. Infused with bold spices like paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and a touch of harissa paste, this recipe captures the essence of traditional merguez while prioritizing your well-being. The addition of fresh parsley, lemon juice, and dried mint brings a vibrant freshness, while olive oil ensures a juicy, tender texture. Ready in just 30 minutes (plus marinating time), these sausages are perfect for grilling, pan-searing, or enjoying as patties alongside a crisp salad or nutty whole-grain couscous. Packed with protein, low in fat, and bursting with smoky, spiced notes, this heart-healthy dish proves you don’t have to compromise flavor for a nutritious meal.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 grams lean ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon harissa paste
• 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the lean ground turkey and olive oil. Mix until the oil is evenly distributed.

Step 2

Add the minced garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, harissa paste, dried mint, salt, and black pepper to the turkey mixture. Use your hands to mix until all the ingredients are well combined.

Step 3

Fold in the chopped fresh parsley and lemon juice, ensuring they are evenly incorporated.

Step 4

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the mixture for at least 1 hour or overnight to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 5

After marinating, divide the mixture into 8 portions and shape each into a sausage link or patty according to your preference.

Step 6

Preheat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Cook the sausages for about 5 minutes on each side, or until they are well browned and thoroughly cooked with an internal temperature of at least 165°F (75°C).

Step 7

Serve the merguez sausages hot, with a side of your choice such as a salad or whole-grain couscous for an additional heart-healthy meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(578.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	886.4

Total Fat 54.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 11.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 357.1mg	0%
Sodium 2878.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 13.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 5.2g	0%
Total Sugars 2.3g
Protein 101.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 217.2mg	0%
Iron 13.0mg	0%
Potassium 1530.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 51.2%

Protein: 43.0%

Carbs: 5.8%