I picked up a pack of these from ASDA.

I always thought they were North African or possibly Spanish given that i've had them at a local tapas bar. These ones are Frech going by the packaging and looking online it does seem that they are popular in France. I guess there is also a connection between France and Africa.

I've only had them in restaurants before and usually just as tapas so not as a main meal.
Any ideas what to have them with?

I used to have them when I lived in Paris in a baguette. I don't think I've ever seen them over here but now I know where to find them!

If this link works then this is what the packaging looks like
http://groceries.asda.com/asda-estor...questid=233796

Bit claustrophobic, living in baguette....

OP, i hope you enjoy them and hope they havent got any hard bits in them just chew them slowly incase

Nice and snug though!

When I went to University in France for a year, Merguez was a popular pizza topping and in baquette. Yes, it is primarily a North African sausage in its roots, but there are loads of North Africans in France and the sausage is produced locally there. I'd probably prefer buying it from a french source than a moroccan, tunisian or algerian, but thats just me...

With crusty rolls and harissa mayonnaise would be lovely.

yes, that does sound delish.

"Spicy beef and lamb sausages"

"Beef (80%) , Lamb (4.0%)"

LOL

Asda have sold these sausages for a few years now, they're very tasty.

As already suggested, they are nice inside a baguette but another good accompaniment would be cous-cous mixed with roasted mediterranean veg such as peppers, courgette, onion & mini tomatoes.

We've only just started getting the more posher sausages.
Toulouse, Italian fennel & garlic, venison etc.

There are 5 in the pack so both of those ideas sound great.

France had an Empire too, like us.
They had a fair bit of Africa. Just see how many African countries speak French and have 'Central African Francs' as their currency.

I buy these from the Algerian grocery shops in London - Finsbury Park and Walthamstow. As others have said, they are generally eaten in a baguette, often with homemade chips inside as well or as part of Couscous Royale;

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipe...-Grilled-Meats

I don't believe it. I've been looking for merguez for literally months and finally hauled myself down to Borough Market last weekend specifically to stock up, and I could have just gone to Asda. Bugger.

But they are very nice. We had the first lot with scrambled eggs and chips, which is probably not the traditional north african method but was delicious nevertheless. I think I'm going to try a sausage casserole next.

It's very close actually! Algerians do homemade chips - basically par boil potatoes, slice them thinly then shallow fry. Once they are cooked, crack some eggs over the top, let them cook a little then stuff everything, along with the merguez, inside a baguette. Delicious!

Off topic but was watching a show last night about Tangier.
A popular sandwich they had which they said had a Spanish influence was in a baguette with salad, tuna, sliced soft boiled egg and topped with fries.

I wouldn't have guessed it being associated with Morocco or Spain but that what has evolved with the locals there.

Oooooh, that sounds nice. Sold! I shall try that next time I fancy a fry-up.

Hmm French horse ...yummy

...Its down to.French colonial influence .A Moroccan McBaguette

Not sure how much Spanish influence there is there but what they had was a version of a Bocadillo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocadillo

Spain had colonies in southern Morocco...and still has 2 enclaves in the north .Though France was by far the major power

Could well be a Bocadillo - or a mini baguette .I ve been to Tanger a number of times in the distant past and don't recall it.Possibly concentrating too much on the merguez and tagines

all the supermarkets in France sell them.

nice, are they not. mind you, ordinary French chipolatas are good too.

Sounds like a salad niccoisse (sp?) baguette with chips on top to me