Chef Talk: Merguez Merguez is lamb sausage, boldly seasoned with harissa, the North African spice paste. Because it is pork-free, you'll often find merguez at halal and kosher butchers. As an easy substitute, mix 1 pound ground lamb, 1 to 2 tablespoons harissa (sold at specialty markets and online), 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 2 garlic cloves, shredded on a Microplane zester.