Black Pudding page

[Meadow]

So while on vacation recently we stayed at an Irish hotel in NY. With breakfast they served a black pudding, aka blood pudding, aka blood sausage (they also had a white version as well). It had some grains in it (looked like barley), but it was a very small piece so I gave it a tentative try.

WOW...I was blown away, it was SOOOO good. None of the flavors I expected at all, it was so flavorful and delicious.

So now I am curious, does anyone in the US have a recommendation for a source of blood sausage (irish or otherwise....since some versions do not contain grains)? I have no clue where I could find it locally, but I am starting to poke around some of the more ethnic butcher shops or restaurants that also sell products. Any other ideas? Maybe a really fool proof recipe (I can honestly say I am scared if I make some of these types of things though, I will never eat it again if you know what I mean).

Also, what should I look for or avoid when picking something?

As a side question, does anyone know if there is a good nutritional value to this type of product (other then iron)? I am TRYING to expand my palate on the nose to tail concept..... trying.

[MamaGrok]

I can't find a way to get blood short of killing the animal myself (which I'd love to know how to do, but don't). Dang feds...

[Animord]

Hi, I am Irish and know what you mean about Black pudding - it's great stuff!

A quick internet search gave me this Gluten Free Black Pudding Complete Mix 1.5kg Home User Pack A UK company who who a dried mix for black pudding and the casings by post. It does contain starch in the form of potatoes but I would suggest getting it and then experimenting - the website gives the list of ingredients - if you are of an experimental type of mind you might look at that.

I am pretty sure, though that there are Irish companies who to export to the states - there are websites to cater for the ex-pat Irish who can't bear to be without their 'proper' foods, you might try them. (sorry, haven't time to google for you, rushing out to work) I will have a look later.

[breadsauce]

I love black pudding and it is easy to get here in the UK. I rarely eat it though - because of the grain content. If I could find a gluten free source I'd eat that.

[localad]

In UK the filler is usually oatmeal. If you are happy with that then fine. Spanish black pudding uses white rice as a filler and if you make it yourself the blood is available in the supermarkets (!!) in quart bottles!

Basically you just need a filler of some sort to absorb the blood so it can congeal around something to a solid form when the pudding is first cooked.

You could for example mix the blood with a very dry potato mash to form a sloppy flat cake then fry it!

(ps the flavour comes from the herbs, spices and added pork fat.)

[jfreaksho]

You might be able to find it at an Asian market. Pig's blood cake and duck's blood soup are very common snacks/dishes over there.

[Juliemama]

Not sure if you have a Portuguese community out there, but they make blood pudding. I can find it in grocery stores here, but we have a HUGE Portuguese community (for a century and a half, at least!) I really am not sure what the binder is, I will check around.

[Juliemama]

The recipe I came across uses meat (pork) as a binder, no grains...so you might want to look for Portuguese blood sausage!

[Chasintrail]

I can't find a way to get blood short of killing the animal myself (which I'd love to know how to do, but don't). Dang feds...

Really? I can find it in any ethnic grocery around here. Usually pig, cow, and chicken blood frozen.

[MamaGrok]

It's strange - we can't get the tongue from the cows we buy from GA processors, but we can get it from TN processors. And restaurants & grocers can buy it from out-of-state processors and sell it. Same with blood pudding, I presume. But the GA processor is inspected by USDA, not state authorities. I have no idea what the deal is.

I just want the blood, brains, intestines, sweetbreads, and tongue from the whole cows and pigs I buy, instead of them going to the dump!