12.18.2009

Recipe: "Colombian" Coke-Glazed Cocktail Sausages



I first tried these suprisingly delicious sausages last summer when my neice and nephew were in Bogotá for a visit. We were only going to test the recipe and try a few - the rest were going to be saved for later, but they were so damn good that we scarfed them down in less than 10 minutes.

It's a really simple recipe that we found in a cookbook of Colombian recipes. According to the author, the recipe is from the coastal region of the country, but I have always heard of several other recipes using Coke including cakes and ham glazes from the U.S., U.K., and even Thailand. Really, I think recipes with Coke as an ingredient can be considered a part of global cuisine.

Some people find it offensive to even consider using Coke as an ingredient but for a product that has become so imensely popular throughout the world, well, that is how cuisine is formed. You borrow, experiment, taste, think, and ultimately a product once thought of as only a beverage can become a common ingredient.

Like tomatoes! The love apple was once thought to be poisonous, then an aphrodisiac, and now? A kitchen staple all over the world. I know it is a stretch to compare a naturally growing fruit to a product made up of refined sugars and carbonated water, but it's basically the same thing.

So, don't diss cooking with Coke. It's good and these sausages are too.

P.S. Drink Coke responsibly - all things in moderation, people...


Coke Glazed Cocktail Sausages

25-30 cocktail sausages
2 cups regular coca-cola

Prick each sausage with a fork then place in a pot with the Coke. Boil, uncovered, over medium to high heat for about 45-50 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and the remaining syrup coats the sausages. Allow the sausages to cool slighty then try not to eat them all in one sitting.