Scottish Square Sausage
Looking for a new dish to try? Ever heard of a Scottish Square Sausage? It’s a traditional dish that is a staple in the Scottish diet. You can usually find it served in cafes as part of a full breakfast or from a burger van (food truck) on a roll for lunch.
While it's primarily known as square sausage, it never actually comes out square! Because it gets its shape from a loaf pan, it is rectangular and how short it is depends on the size of your loaf pan.
Square sausage is very easy to make and doesn't require a lot of ingredients or hands-on time to make. You just some ground meat, breadcrumbs, and spices to whip up a batch of this delicious sausage!
Scottish Square Sausage
Scottish Square Sausage, also called Lorne Sausage, is the perfect meal for anyone who loves comfort food. It's hearty, filling, and delicious.
It looks a bit intimidating at first but if you can make meatloaf, you can make this easily! So if you're craving something warm and satisfying, look no further than this dish.
The spice mixture is unique. If you look around online, you'll find a bunch of different variations. Our recipe is based on the blends common in the Glasgow/South Lanarkshire area.
What Ingredients Are In Square Sausage?
- Ground beef
- Ground pork sausage
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Nutmeg
- Coriander
- Kosher salt (do not use table salt!)
- Ground black pepper
- Ground mace
- Water
This is not the time to get 93/7 as you need a higher fat content for this to turn out right. I normally buy 85/15 for my beef and then a standard ground pork sausage in the U.S. In Scotland, ASDA sells a pork and beef mince combo that has a higher fat content.
How to Make Square Sausage
Mix the breadcrumbs & spices/salt in a bowl.
Mix the meat in a large bowl until uniform.
Add the seasoned breadcrumbs & mix really well.
Add the water & mix until well combined.
Put into a loaf pan, lined with plastic wrap, and pack it tight to remove as much air as possible.
Cover the top and freeze for at least one hour. 2-3 hours seems to work best.
Remove from the loaf pan & dispose of plastic wrap.
Using a sharp knife, slice into 12-16 slices.
Freeze extra slices for later use. I use a freezer bag with parchment paper or freezer paper between layers.
What is the Best Way to Cook Square Sausage?
Pan fry thawed sausage with a little olive oil until cooked through. About 3-4 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
Can be done under the broiler for a similar time, but I haven't tried that yet.
What Is Lorne Sausage?
Lorne sausage is a type of Scottish food that is very popular in Scotland. It is sometimes referred to as square sausage because it is usually sold in rectangular slices.
You can buy it from a butcher or any grocery store in Scotland. You can order it on a roll at cafes and burger vans (food trucks).
Lorne sausage is usually made from a mixture of beef and pork. It's flavored with nutmeg, coriander, and mace.
The meat mixture is formed into a square and then frozen until it becomes firm. After this point, the dish is usually cut into thin slices so that you can serve them on sandwiches or as part of a meal once it is pan-fried.
What Does Scottish Square Sausage Taste Like?
Scottish Square Sausage is very flavorful but it's kind of hard to explain. It's more savory than a lot of the American sausage I grew up eating and lends itself easily to breakfast or dinner.
What To Serve With Square Sausage
Square sausage is primarily a breakfast/brunch food at our house. We do a simple Scottish breakfast, with fried eggs, square sausage, bacon, and beans. Sometimes we do the full Scottish fry-up with tattie scones, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, and toast too.
You can also use it in stovies or a casserole, served with mashed tatties and your favorite vegetable side dish. Or you can go simple and toss fried sausage onto a bap (a delicious type of soft yeasty roll) with ketchup or brown sauce.
Square sausage is very easy to make and you can enjoy it at any time of the day. It's delicious and filling and perfect for when you're craving something hot and tasty.
Yes! You can freeze square sausage as well as other types of sausage. For tips on how to best freeze and package, check out this helpful post!
I freeze mine after slicing and before cooking. I store them in a large freezer container with wax paper between each slice. This way I can thaw & fry a single slice or two, depending on how many I need.
Yes! We actually use a combination of ground beef and ground pork sausage in this recipe.
I mix mine by hand in the same way I do meatloaf. I start by mixing the meat itself until it is an even consistency. Then I add the seasoned breadcrumbs, mixing again. Lastly, I add the water & mix again. I like to make sure the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the meat and it has a nice texture before packing it into a loaf pan.
Scottish Square Sausage | Lorne Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork sausage
- 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp coriander
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground mace
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Mix the breadcrumbs & spices/salt in a bowl.
- Mix the meat in a large bowl until uniform.
- Add the seasoned breadcrumbs & mix well.
- Add the water & mix until well combined.
- Put into a loaf pan, lined with plastic wrap, and pack it tight to remove as much air as possible.
- Cover the top and freeze for at least one hour. 2-3 hours seems to work best.
- Remove from the loaf pan & dispose of plastic wrap.
- Using a sharp knife, slice into 12-16 slices.
- Freeze extra slices for later use. I use a freezer bag with parchment paper or freezer paper between layers.
- Pan fry thawed sausage with a little olive oil until cooked through. About 3-4 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
- Can be done under the broiler for a similar time, but I haven't tried that yet.
Notes
Nutrition
