Italian Fennel Sausage Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Klkruger

It's not too much salt if you're using Diamond Crystal. Not at all. If using Morton kosher use 1.5 teaspoon; use 1 teaspoon table salt. Rather than frying up a bit to test seasoning just stick a rounded teaspoon in a little bowl and microwave for 30 seconds or so, till just cooked through. Taste then adjust seasoning, if necessary, in the remaining mix before forming patties.

Carrie

I used Mortons kosher salt, and 2 tsp was too much. If you use Morton's, I recommend cutting back on the salt. My fault, the recipe specifies Diamond. I used turkey, and added about a tablespoon and a half of bacon fat. Turned out great.

Dave Kaye

I make the patties using a $1 circular cookie mold. Only fill it up about halfway or the patties will be too thick.

Nora Esthimer

Hi, Jim. Did you add fat to the ground turkey? If so, what and how much? Thanks!

Occupy Government

This is easy. Grind your own pork stew meat or butt, and feel free to add garlic and onion powder, paprika and herbs (thyme, oregano, marjoram). Add anise instead of or in addition to the fennel. It's best if you let it suppurate overnight. It freezes, well-wrapped, for weeks.

Katherine

For a guest who eats neither pork nor poultry, I made this with grass-fed beef but otherwise as written. Both she and I were wowed.

Carrie

I used Mortons kosher salt, and 2 tsp was too much. If you use Morton's, I recommend cutting back on the salt. My fault, the recipe specifies Diamond. I used turkey, and added about a tablespoon and a half of bacon fat. Turned out great.

Heidi

Delicious but a bit too salty. Next time I would cut the salt by half.

Dave Kaye

I make the patties using a $1 circular cookie mold. Only fill it up about halfway or the patties will be too thick.

Dave Kaye

Does this have to rest in the fridge as patties? Any reason this can't be just left in a bowl and turned into patties after 30 minutes? Does the heat of the hands affect things?

Klkruger

It's not too much salt if you're using Diamond Crystal. Not at all. If using Morton kosher use 1.5 teaspoon; use 1 teaspoon table salt. Rather than frying up a bit to test seasoning just stick a rounded teaspoon in a little bowl and microwave for 30 seconds or so, till just cooked through. Taste then adjust seasoning, if necessary, in the remaining mix before forming patties.

Gloucester

delicious! next time, I'll adjust the salt for my intended purpose. for more sparing use in pasta/pizza the 2 tsp of Diamond kosher salt is good; I would reduce the salt to about 1 tsp if I want the sausage to anchor a meal.

Eric W

Too much salt..... 1 t rather than 2t

Linda

Delicious and better than the grocery sausage by far. Make sure you have the suggested fat content in the ground pork. I guess mine was too lean, so patties were a bit dry, although still yummy!

Laura West

Make this simple fennel-scented sausage to toss into pasta or onto pizza. Par-cook large crumbles to fold into Thanksgiving stuffing or a pot of soup. Or

jim b

I used ground turkey instead of pork, and it came out great.

Nora Esthimer

Hi, Jim. Did you add fat to the ground turkey? If so, what and how much? Thanks!

Joan

Wondering what to serve this with?

Occupy Government

This is easy. Grind your own pork stew meat or butt, and feel free to add garlic and onion powder, paprika and herbs (thyme, oregano, marjoram). Add anise instead of or in addition to the fennel. It's best if you let it suppurate overnight. It freezes, well-wrapped, for weeks.

Frank

I'm sure you didn't mean suppurate.

Cedarglen

See my notes for the breakfast sausage as most apply here as well. This fennel sausage is wonderful and has so many uses! Cannot mark either one as 'cooked' as my sausage is close, but not close enough. Fun project!!

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Italian Fennel Sausage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do Italians use fennel in sausage? ›

The particular ingredient that usually sets Italian sausage apart is fennel.

What brand of Italian sausage has fennel? ›

Rinaldi Fennel Sausage, commonly referred to as sweet Italian, is your traditional Italian sausage. The notes of anise derive from the use of ground fennel seed mixed with just the right amount of salt and pepper to achieve the traditional flavors of southern Italy.

What's the difference between Italian sausage and Sicilian sausage? ›

They are (almost) all made of pork, but their seasoning is different. In the North, you often get a hint of cinnamon in sausages, while in the south they are often spicy and seasoned with either chilli or black pepper. Sicilian sausage is yet another variation as it is characterised by the use of fennel seeds.

What distinctive herb is critical to make Italian sausage? ›

Italian sausage has many herbs and spices, but fennel seed is what gives it its distinct flavor. Don't skip it. I buy whole fennel seed and crush it slightly when making this seasoning mix.

What is the distinctive flavor in Italian sausage? ›

Fennel or anise: The main flavor within Italian sausage—and also the actually Italian salsiccia sausage—comes from the fennel or anise seeds that are mixed in with the pork. These are very distinctive flavors that separate Italian sausage from other comparable sausage types.

Why do Italians love fennel? ›

For example, Italians often eat fennel raw at the end of a meal, saying it helps with digestion and cleansing. If you do a quick search, you'll find that Fennel Bulbs are an impressive source of dietary fiber, which we all know is amazing for digestion and gut health!

Why did Costco stop selling Italian sausage? ›

The discontinuation coincided with when Costco simplified its entire food court menu which included the Italian sausage sandwich. This decision was made because during the pandemic, Costco had to adapt to changes in consumer behavior, product availability, and safety protocols.

Does Johnsonville Sweet Italian sausage have fennel? ›

Johnsonville's website doesn't name the seasonings they use in the sausage but that style typically contains fennel, garlic and red pepper as its primary seasonings. All of those flavors compliment most Italian-American style dishes so I'd say you're on the right track.

Why do they put fennel in sausage? ›

The red pepper flakes are what give the spicy varieties of Italian sausage their signature kick, while fennel is the hallmark flavor that makes it distinct from other kinds of sausage.

What is a godfather sausage? ›

The Godfather

A criminally good blend of salt, pepper, fennel, anise and Italian pork sausage.

What is Italian sausage called in Italy? ›

Salsiccia

What is the name of the thin Italian sausage? ›

Chipolatas are often prepared as a relatively thin and short sausage. Chipolatas are typically made from coarse-ground pork seasoned with salt and pepper together with herbs and spices—according to the particular recipe—such as sage, thyme, pimento, or nutmeg.

What is in Jimmy Dean Italian sausage? ›

INGREDIENTS. Pork, Water, Contains 2% Or Less: Corn Syrup, Salt, Natural Flavor, Vinegar, Sugar, Sea Salt, Paprika, Pork Broth.

What is the seed used in Italian sausage? ›

Fennel is the spice that gives Italian sausage its Italian flavor. Often the fennel is a mixture of whole or cracked fennel seed and ground fennel. The whole or cracked fennel seed will help to give good visibility to the spice while the ground fennel will contribute a very distinctive fennel flavor.

What are the green seeds in Italian sausage? ›

That would be fennel seeds. Often found in Italian Sausage.

What is traditional Italian sausage made from? ›

Italian sausage is ground pork often flavored with garlic and fennel seed. It comes in two different styles, sweet or hot. Hot Italian sausage usually is flavored with spicy red pepper, while the sweet version has no pepper in it.

Is fennel common in Italian food? ›

The vegetable is native to the Mediterranean and is eaten both raw and cooked in a variety of cuisines, most famously Italian food. Fennel seeds, harvested from the same species, frequently appear in sausages and are a key ingredient in Indian cooking.

What Italian cured meat has fennel? ›

Fennel salami - Finocchiona salami

Made according to ancient methods, during dry curing the aromatic flavour of fennel fuses with the meat and results in a delicate, fragrant salami. Fennel salami is said to originate in the Middle ages in Tuscany.

What is sausage made of in Italy? ›

Italian sausage is usually made from pork that is seasoned with salt, pepper and various herbs and spices before being stuffed into a natural casing.

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