What kind of sausage can substitute for lapchang?

[lcast2]

I don't know where I'm going to find this Chinese sausage, so what is the best sausage to substitute? Is it hard sausage?

[cteats]

Hong Kong market in Flushing has about 30 Asian (mostly Chinese) sausage varieties. I don't recall Lapchang, but haven't looked for it.

[bolletje]

In NYC, there is a chinese sausage maker on Orchard Street (the Chinese side of it) but I think they only make pork sausage. They are very nice in there.

[The Chowhound Team]

Hi Folks-

Please take any further discussion about local purveyors of Chinese sausage to the respective regional board. The L.A. purveyor digression has been moved here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

Thanks.

[paulj]

Any Asian market should carry one or more brands of Chinese sausage. You might even find it with tofu in a large grocery.
paulj

[notmartha]

The package may not be labeled as 'lapchong' though. It's usually in the refridgerator section of any chinese supermarket, and there are usually many types to chose from. Just try any that's labeled chinese sausage or tawianese sausage. It's very firm, and a darker brown/reddish in color, comes in a package of 10 or so links. There are plenty of chinese grocery stores in Chinatown and Flushing, so I don't think finding one would be a problem.

You really can't duplicate the flavor and texture. It tastes slightly on the sweet side to me.

[lcast2]

NYC

[raytamsgv]

I live near Los Angeles, so I won't be able to help you very much. You should be able to find Chinese sausage in most Chinese markets. If you find a store selling dried meats, it will almost certainly sell lap cheung. There are different varieties, such as pork, duck liver, etc. The pork ones will have chunks of fat visible in them when you cook. This makes it tasty, of course. The duck liver ones will not have the visible fat. I personally like these better.

If you know anyone who regularly eats these, ask if there is a store that makes them fresh on the premises. I have found these in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. I'm guessing that there will be such stores in NYC. The fresh ones are superior to the mass-produced ones.

I hope you will be able to find some suitable lap cheung.

[raytamsgv]

Whereabouts do you live?

[ricepad]

Lap cheung is a pretty firm sausage, and I think anything you could use as a substitute would be found at a Chinese market, like Chinese salt pork.