Homemade Sweet Italian Sausage (Mild or Hot)

Ingredients

3 pounds ground pork

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper

1 ¼ tablespoons dried parsley

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon dried basil

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste

¾ teaspoon ground fennel seed

¼ teaspoon brown sugar

⅛ teaspoon dried oregano

⅛ teaspoon dried thyme

Directions

Step 1

Place the pork and red wine vinegar in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, paprika, red pepper flakes, fennel seed, brown sugar, oregano, and thyme. Knead until flecks of spice are evenly distributed through the sausage.

Step 2

Divide the sausage into thirds, and form into 3 logs; wrap each in plastic wrap. Place wrapped sausage into a freezer bag before freezing, or store in refrigerator for at least 12 hours before cooking.

Cook's Note

I always wrap first and then put into a freezer bag or plastic container to help prevent freezer burn. For easy patties, pull log out of freezer and thaw. You can use a finely serrated knife to cut right through wrapping into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices, or use the same as you would ground chuck as meat product. I use it for patties, spaghetti meat, meatballs, etc.

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