The best substitute for Andouille sausage

If you like your sausage to have a bit of flavor and a totally different texture, andouille sausage is the best option for you.

This gourmet sausage is unlike the traditional sausages you might find at the supermarket. It is a very unique option and difficult to recreate.

However, if you find yourself in a bind and want something close to andouille sausage, there are a few options to get you as close as possible without having to settle for anything even close to it.

What is the best substitute for andouille sausage? The closest substitute for andouille sausage is chorizo, for its similar smoky and spicy flavor. Other good options are kielbasa and German bratwurst. For vegetarians and vegans, the tofu sausage is probably the closest.

You can use other types of sausage and sometimes even add seasonings to mimic andouille sausage.

In this guide, we will share with you all the best substitute options for andouille sausage, taking into account the textures and flavors to try to get you hooked on options that are as close to the original as possible.

There are many to choose from so you are spoiled for choice. Read on for the best andouille sausage substitute options and more.

Andouille Sausage Substitutes - A Complete Guide

Andouille sausage is not like your typical hot dog or sausage. It tends to have a bit of a strong flavor that really stands out. Compared to something like smoked sausage, the flavor is smoky and chunky.

The smoky flavor almost gives it a bit of heat. When you buy andouille sausage, you can find different varieties and flavors that really complement the true nature of the sausage.

You can find it in things like gumbo and jambalaya, as well as a variety of skillet foods.

Flavor isn’t the only thing that separates andouille sausage from other varieties. The texture and build are also very different.

While most varieties of sausage links are made with ground meat stuffed into a casing, andouille sausage is actually made up of minced portions of pork.

Although all these sausages are made from pork, the way they are made makes a difference and you will notice it when you bite into it. The textures and flavors vary greatly.

So what do you do when you just don’t have andouille sausage available? There are many traditional dishes that call for this type of sausage, but it is also a favorite even for smoked links.

Lucky for you, if andouille sausage just isn’t available, you have a few options. Give these options a try and see if any of them might work for you when you’re in a pinch and need an andouille sausage substitute in a hurry.

1. Sausage

Probably one of the closest substitutes you’ll find is our favorite option, the Mexican chorizo.

This chorizo can be a bit spicy, but it is very similar to the spicy and smoky flavors of andouille sausage.

If you make a gumbo or a jambalaya or a similar dish, that little spiciness adds a kick to the dish.

Mexican chorizo is not much like andouille sausage. It is dark red in color, while andouille is usually quite light in color before being cooked.

However, the texture is also quite similar, being a bit thicker than other varieties of chorizo.

The biggest similarity between the two is the smoky flavor. Although not exact, the smoked red peppers used in the chorizo give a similar smoky result.

This smoky flavor between andouille and chorizo comes from very different sources, but the results are surprisingly comparable when you need a good substitute.

There is also a European version of the chorizo that can work as a substitute. It comes in the form of a sausage link and is cured, so it can even be eaten sliced.

It will also work quite well as a substitute for andouille, especially if you use slices for something or just enjoy it whole as a link.

If you decide to substitute chorizo for the andouille, you can substitute 1:1. That is, you will use the same amount of chorizo that you would have used from your andouille sausage. No other modification is necessary!

2.Kielbasa

Next, kielbasa is another great substitute. Kielbasa is a smoked sausage that comes from Poland. It is similar in style to andouille sausage and has that smoky flavor you may be looking for.

Kielbasa is interesting because it is not always made with pork, although this is the most common way to make it.

The smoky flavor will not stand out as much because of the cardamom flavor that the kielbasa has. In fact, if there is going to be anything that stands out by contrast, it will be cardamom.

You can try to combat this by using a touch of Cajun seasoning and some black pepper to distract from the cardamom and give the kielbasa a sharper, more andouille-like flavor.

It’s not a perfect substitute, but it can get close. Kielbasa is smoky and has a similar texture. It can be used in the same ways as andouille sausage.

It’s rich in flavor, which is perhaps one of the reasons why it’s a good substitution option.

If you like to make pasta dishes or sausage rolls, kielbasa is the perfect substitute, and the ways of making these dishes will most likely mask the major differences between andouille and kielbasa in the end.

Many people prefer to make their own kielbasa. If you make your own kielbasa, this is the perfect time to add a touch of spice to make it more like andouille.

A hint of Cajun and some black pepper will give it that spicy andouille-like flavor. Then, you can also smoke the kielbasa with wood and also get the smoky flavor that the andouille provides.

If you really want to get technical, kielbasa is quite a broad category in Poland, because it encompasses all their varieties of sausage.

If you see different terminology and need to know which one is best, look up Kielbasa Mysliwska. This particular version is smoked, making it more like andouille in general, but it’s also dry.

You may never see these terms. If you’re shopping at your local grocery store and pick up a package of smoked kielbasa, it will most likely fall into this category and work the same way we’ve described.

As with the chorizo, you don’t have to worry about adjusting portions to match the andouille. You can use the same amount or even more of kielbasa in a recipe than andouille sausage.

If you’re concerned about the cardamom flavor, add a few extra seasonings or use a little less kielbasa overall.

3. German Bratwurst

A bratwurst is another good substitute for andouille sausage. Its texture is quite different because it is made with minced meat stuffed into a casing, instead of chunks like andouille.

You can noticeably see and feel the difference in texture. If you want the same texture or want to be able to slice the sausage, bratwurst may not work for you.

You might be surprised, though, that while bratwursts are typically made with more ground beef, they also contain ground beef in the mix, making their texture more like some of the other options.

In the same vein, you can achieve an andouille-like flavor by adding seasonings to your raw bratwursts.

This is one of the easiest ways to mimic the overall flavor of andouille sausage, especially if you can smoke the bratwurst to get a smoky flavor as well.

Find and work with a traditional German bratwurst that isn’t flavored, cheddar-infused, or beer-battered. Before cooking it, he creates a mixture of spices to season it.

Try these specific spices:

• Sea salt
• garlic flakes
• Peppers
• chili powder
• cayenne
• Black pepper
• Jaimacan pepper
• Thyme
• Sage

Since you’re working with bratwurst, you can omit the thyme and sage and just work with the other ingredients to achieve the rich flavor that the andouille offers.

These spices are shared because they are the most traditional used in the creation of andouille.

Bratwurst is another option that isn’t always pork, so if you want to be as close as possible just make sure you’re actually getting pork brats instead of beef or cow brats.

You can probably get something pretty similar with beef, but it won’t be quite the same.

We like pork sausages as a suitable substitute because they are often sold uncooked (although you can buy them pre-cooked as well) and this allows you to season and smoke them to be more like andouille sausage.

If you decide to substitute using bratwurst, you would substitute in measures equal to the amount of andouille you would have used.

4. Tofu Sausage - Vegan/Vegetarian Option

If you need a good vegetarian or vegan substitute for andouille, you can’t go wrong with a simple tofu sausage. These sausages are made to be tasty and are loaded with protein, making them a suitable alternative.

In fact, there’s an andouille tofu sausage from Tofurky that’s made specifically with a blend of spices so that the tofu and other plant-based ingredients taste as close to andouille sausage as possible.

Of course, tofu and pork are not exactly the same when it comes to flavor and texture. You may notice some differences, but overall it will come close and you will achieve your goal of finding a suitable substitute for andouille.

The good thing is that you can get smoked tofu sausages, so you will also get the smoky flavor. Tofu has a pretty dominant flavor when you buy tofu sausage, so it’s sharp, much like andouille.

If you choose wisely and opt for another smoked tofu sausage, it tastes rich and intense and makes a really great substitution option. You’d be surprised how well it can fit in as a substitute.

You don’t need to add seasoning for it to work, as tofu sausage already has a rich flavor, especially tofu sausages made specifically to taste like andouille.

Tofu sausages won’t be nearly as similar in texture overall, but if you cook them on a plate, you probably won’t even notice the difference.

You can use the same amount of tofu sausage as a substitute, or slightly less to even out the andouille ratio in the recipe.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide to the best andouille sausage substitutes a valuable resource. There are some great options out there, and if you know what to look for, you can be satisfied with many of them.

If you are looking for an intense flavor, opt for the chorizo. If you are looking for a smoky flavor, try the kielbasa. If you want the most similar texture, stick with the sausages. If you need a vegetarian substitute, tofu sausage is the way to go!

We invite you to take a look at the following section of questions and answers for additional information that may be useful to you.

What makes andouille sausage different from other sausages?

The biggest difference between andouille sausage and other types of sausage is its rich, strong flavor.

Andouille is a Cajun food with a deep smoky flavor and rich Cajun spices, such as cayenne, garlic, pepper, thyme, and chili seasonings.

Another subtle difference is the texture, since andouille is not made with ground meat like so many other versions of sausage.

Do we have to remove the gut from the andouille?

You will see that almost all types of sausage have some type of casing. In most cases it is not necessary to remove the casing.

This casing is what gives it the shape of links and allows you to enjoy it in slices or links. The tripe is completely edible.

If you prefer your andouille shredded or ground, you can remove the casing for those purposes and it may be easier to come by.