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esperanza / Moderator

Jan 19, 2008, 9:19 AM

Post #1 of 8 (546 views)

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Esperanza's Italian Sausage Recipe

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For Ed and Fran:

2 1/2 pounds lean ground pork
1/2 Cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional, if you can't find it where you are)
3 large cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon dry basil
1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
1/4 teaspoon cracked rosemary
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (or to taste, less if you don't care for hot sausage, more if your palate likes picante)
1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seed (up to 1 tablespoon if you like dominant fennel flavor)
1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped, (stems removed)

Mix it all together and form into patties or a couple of loaves. I make loaves to crumble and use later in preparing my spaghetti sauce.

If you can't find fennel, this won't be Italian sausage without it. Fennel is the definitive flavor for it.

Provecho!

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Ed and Fran

Jan 19, 2008, 10:51 AM

Post #2 of 8 (527 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Esperanza's Italian Sausage Recipe

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Thanks!!!

One quick question, for the "cracked" rosemary and the fennel seed, should I be coarsely grinding these with a mortar and pestle?

I actually bought fennel seed in a previous trip NOB in anticipation of making Italian sausage, just didn't get around to finding a recipe. Will definitely try this one, sounds easy enough for me.

Thanks again.

Ed

esperanza / Moderator

Jan 19, 2008, 11:20 AM

Post #3 of 8 (524 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Esperanza's Italian Sausage Recipe

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A mortar and pestle would work fine. Don't crack it too much, just break it up a little to release the fragrances and flavors.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

thriftqueen

Jan 19, 2008, 12:28 PM

Post #4 of 8 (514 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Esperanza's Italian Sausage Recipe

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Another recipe for Italian Sausage:

5 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp fennel seed, crushed
1/2 tsp thyme
2 bay leaves, ground
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 3/4 lbs. ground pork, unseasoned
1/4 lb. ground beef

Press garlic into a large bowl, stir in all other spices. (Tip: mix all the spices together before adding to the meat mixture). Add ground pork & ground beef. Using your hands knead the mixture long enough to distribute the spices evenly.

Fry crumbled over medium-low heat until browned.

I recently found and tried this recipe. I ground the fennel seed in my coffee grinder as I don't like the surprise of a whole fennel seed in one bite of sausage. I eliminated the bay leaves as I had already put the coffee grinder away :^). It was a wonderful treat to have Italian sausage, especially to learn how easy they are to home-make. (yes, I mean home-make). The butcher grinds our pork fresh, as well as our hamburger and it's wonderful. The price of hamburger at Leys was 9.70 K recently. That's when I returned to a carneceria. Much better quality and a lower price.

Ed and Fran

Jan 19, 2008, 1:23 PM

Post #5 of 8 (511 views)

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Re: [thriftqueen] Esperanza's Italian Sausage Recipe

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The price of hamburger at Leys was 9.70 K recently.

I just have to ask. Are you talking $9.70 m.n. (pesos) / kg? Sounds like we need to move closer to you, that's a steal. Just bought some ground beef at the supermarket today and paid $39.90/kg. I don't expect it to be that much cheaper in the carneceria here.

thriftqueen

Jan 19, 2008, 7:27 PM

Post #6 of 8 (488 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Esperanza's Italian Sausage Recipe

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Sorry, got my decimal in the wrong place, it was 97.50 pesos per K in Leys. If you aren't familar with the Ley chain it is similar to Soriana. The Safeway chain owns 49 % of Leys. The Ley family owns the remaining shares. We paid 63.00 pesos per K at the carneceria. Just heard on Fox news that the price of groceries has climbed 5% in the past year, the largest hike in 2 decades they said. We notice the prices on everything is on the rise here in Sonora also.

Ed and Fran

Jan 19, 2008, 7:35 PM

Post #7 of 8 (486 views)

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Re: [thriftqueen] Esperanza's Italian Sausage Recipe

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Whew, that's better. But even $63/kg seems high. Maybe we don't need to move to Sonora.

Nope, not familiar with Ley's. There is a Soriana up in Tampico, and one over in Poza Rica, but we don't normally go that far to buy stuff.

Anonimo

Jan 20, 2008, 3:58 AM

Post #8 of 8 (469 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Esperanza's Italian Sausage Recipe

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Thanks, Esperanza. I have a favorite Italian Sausage recipe, but I'll give yours a try next time.

I'm always looking for ways to use up my fennel seed supply.

http://mexkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/01/rotate-for-freshness.html