Around-the-World Pork Sausage Patties
I’m particularly proud of our house-made sausages, which we have been making and selling at the Market since day one. They’re delicious, and they’re also free of the fillers, additives, and preservatives common in commercially made sausages. You don’t need a meat grinder or a sausage stuffer to make sausage at home. You can use preground pork shoulder, mix in the spices of your choice, and form them into patties or kebabs. Here I share three of my favorite spice combinations: a classic breakfast sausage, a hot Italian variety, and a sweet Spanish-style chorizo. If pork is not your thing, ground chicken or turkey that has a 15 to 20 percent fat content will work as well.
Recipe information
Yield
MAKES 6 SMALL PATTIES
Ingredients
BREAKFAST SAUSAGE
HOT ITALIAN
SPANISH CHORIZO
Preparation
Step 1
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, gently break up the pork into chunks. Add the spice ingredients and mix on medium speed, just until blended and the pieces of fat start to look a little “smeared” against the meat (see Tip).
Step 2
Heat a tablespoon or so of oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Form a little of the sausage mixture into a patty and cook, flipping occasionally, until the pork is cooked through. Let cool slightly, then taste for seasoning. Gently mix in more salt as needed and retest if you like.
Step 3
Shape the remaining sausage into patties or mold around skewers to make kebabs. Cook on the stove top or a grill.
Note
Step 4
You can make the sausage up to a day ahead of time. Store it covered in the refrigerator, but let it come to room temperature before cooking.
Tip
Step 5
The key to making good sausage is to beat the mixture just until the fat starts to stretch, but not blend, into the meat; that way, the mixture will hold together and the flavors will be well integrated. It’s important to keep all ingredients cool; otherwise, the fat will melt into the meat. The ideal for this is to use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment; rinse the bowl and attachment in icy-cold water to chill them first. But you can also use your hands, as long as you keep them cool (I dip mine in an ice bath).
