Etymology

Today it means: A dry, spicy sausage of Ottoman Turkish origin that is popular in the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeastern Europe and, to a lesser extent, in other regions that used to be part of the Ottoman Empire. It consists of ground meat (usually beef) mixed with spices including cumin, sumac, garlic, salt, and red pepper, fed into a sausage casing and allowed to dry for several weeks. Full definition →