Mmm, Italian Pork Sausage—always a hit! Whether you’re grilling it, adding it to pasta, or just serving it up on a bun, homemade Italian sausage has so much flavor and spice. Here’s a simple, authentic recipe for making your own delicious Italian pork sausage at home.
Homemade Italian Pork Sausage Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds ground pork (preferably with a bit of fat for flavor)
- 1/4 cup crushed fennel seeds (for that classic Italian flavor)
- 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder (or 4-5 cloves fresh garlic, minced)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust based on your spice level preference)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup red wine (optional, but adds depth to the flavor)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (optional for a savory kick)
- Sausage casings (if you want to stuff them into links, or you can just make patties)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Meat:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork with all the seasonings: fennel seeds, oregano, garlic powder (or minced fresh garlic), red pepper flakes, parsley, salt, and black pepper. If you’re using red wine and/or Parmesan, add those as well.
2. Mix the Sausage:
- Use your hands to mix everything together thoroughly. You want to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout the pork. Don’t overmix though, as you want to keep the texture nice.
3. Test the Flavor:
- Before proceeding, you can cook a small piece of the sausage in a skillet to taste-test the seasoning. Just fry up a small patty of the mixture, taste it, and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as you prefer.
4. Stuff the Sausages (optional):
- If you’re making sausage links, rinse your casings with water, then stuff the sausage mixture into the casings using a sausage stuffer or a funnel. Twist sausages every 6-8 inches. Tie the ends of the casings securely.
- If you prefer to skip the casings, you can roll the sausage mixture into patties about 1/2 inch thick, or just cook it as crumbles.
5. Cook the Sausage:
- For links: Heat a grill or skillet to medium heat. Cook the sausages, turning them occasionally, for about 15-20 minutes, or until they’re browned on the outside and cooked through.
- For patties or crumbles: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the sausage until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up into crumbles if desired (around 8-10 minutes).
6. Serve:
- Serve the sausages hot with your favorite sides, like sautéed peppers and onions, pasta, or in a bun with a bit of mustard. They also make a great addition to pizza or lasagna!
Tips:
- Storage: You can freeze the uncooked sausages in plastic wrap for up to 2 months. Just let them thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking.
- Spices: Feel free to adjust the spices. For a more traditional flavor, you can add a little bit of sage or basil.
Homemade Italian pork sausages are full of flavor, and you can tweak them to your taste. Do you like them spicier, or do you prefer a milder sausage?