What to do with Tasso? [Split from Site Talk]

[johnnyb510]

I've brought back Tasso from New Orleans...what can I do with it besides flavoring bean dishes?

[escondido123]

I love it in pasta with cream sauce--adds a wonderful layer of flavor if diced and browned before being added.

[hambone]

I had Chef Prudhomme's Chicken Tchptoulis (includes tasso) and it was one of the five or ten best things I have ever eaten.

One example:
http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/8281...

[lilpixy]

I'm sorry but what is tasso?

[LindaWhit]

It's a spicy, peppery version of smoked pork - usually from the shoulder cut - with a good extra kick to it. Specialty of southern Louisiana cooking.

[lilpixy]

sounds delicious

[mudcat]

I gave up trying to find tasso in my area so I make my own. The same with andouille. A summer job at the old Dixie Packing Company in Arabi (St. Benard Parish), Louisiana many years ago is still paying off.

[LindaWhit]

I live in New England - haven't seen it up here except on rare occasion at Whole Foods. But it can be ordered online from Cajun Grocer.

[PesachBenSchlomo]

cajungrocer.com has a lot of good quality LA foodstuffs at reasonable prices, including Tasso, Andouille, Boudin, smoked sausage (for red beans and rice), etc.

[shallots]

Puleo's restaurants near Knoxville make two gravies to serve with their fried green tomatoes: a classic white gravy with chunks of pork sausage and a red gravy with tasso as the base meat. The Tasso is a thick, rich experience that is worth aiming to copy. Not very tomato based, they may use Guajillo pepper for the rich red color and gentle heat.

[mudcat]

Use as flavoring in just about anything or make sandwiches with it.

[LindaWhit]

Put it into étouffée or jambalaya; make a tasso cream sauce for shrimp; it's great in various soups when finely diced; diced and cook some up and add it to scrambled eggs.

[deet13]

You can dice tasso up and add it to jambalaya, gravy, dressing, or crab cakes.

[sedimental]

I had a really great eggs Benedict recently with Tasso (cubed) in the hollandaise.

[fourunder]

Shrimp and Grits......Maverick Style from the Maverick Kitchens in Charleston.....Slightly North of Broad aka SNOB.

[ricepad]

I received some Tasso in a gift basket this year, and I'm going to use it in gumbo. Still haven't decided on a recipe yet, tho.