Category: Charcuterie

Step 1: The Spices

Your spices consists of the ingredients you will be using to flavor your sausage. Toasting and grinding your own spices makes a difference you can taste. Avoid ready made spice kits.

Step 2: Cutting

Cut the meat into uniform cubes that are smaller than the opening of your grinder. Remove blood vessels, tendons, or glands. Place the meat in a bowl large enough to allow room for mixing

Step 3: Marinating

Evenly distribute half of the spices over the meat. Using your hands mix well until evenly coated. Add the second half of spices and mix again. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours to allow the seasonings to permeate the meat.

Step 4: Chilling

Chilling both your meat and parts of the grinder helps to avoid grinding issues. After cutting and marinating the meat, be sure to refrigerate it for at least 2 hours so it is thoroughly chilled.

Step 5: Grinding

Begin by assembling the grinder following manufacturers instructions. You will need a wide bowl or container that fits easily under the grinder to catch the ground meat. Feed the meat into the tube, one piece at a time. Let the machine do the work rather than pushing too much meat through the grinder at once.

Step 6: Mixing

Seasoned, ground sausage meat should be mixed thoroughly by hand for 1 to 2 minutes. This action ensures that the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout.

Step 7: Tasting

Scoop up about 2 tablespoons of the well-mixed farce and shape into a small, flat patty. Cook the patty in a small pan over medium heat. Evaluate the taste and texture. If too dry add a small amount of ground fat. If the seasoning Is too weak, add more salt or spices. If too highly seasoned, add a small amount of unseasoned ground meat and ground fat. It is much easier to add salt and spices than it is to lessen their intensity.

Step 8: Stuffing (Optional)

Stuffing takes practice. Don’t be discouraged your first few batches . They will still taste great. Natural casings are the processed lamb, pork, and beef intestines used for casing sausage and salami. Before they can be used, they must be rinsed thoroughly in several changes of cold water. Once rinsed, they can be stored in water in the refrigerator for up to about 5 days.

Remove a length of soaked casing from the water.

Turn the crank so that the lid presses gently onto the top of the meat, forcing just ½ inch (12 mm) of the meat out through the nozzle. This helps to eliminate air pockets

Pull the end of the casing over the edge of the nozzle, then knot the end of the casing.

Place your thumb and forefinger around the end of the nozzle to regulate the movement of the casing.

Crank the handle slowly to press the sausage meat into the casing. Release more casing off the nozzle as the sausage flows through the tube.

If an air bubble forms, prick the sausage casing.

Basic Sausage Recipes:

Poultry Or Rabbit

3¾ pounds (1.7 kg) boneless, skinless poultry or rabbit

+ 1¼ pound (567 g) pork back fat

+ 2 tablespoons (1.2 ounces/34 g) fine sea salt

Lamb

3 pounds (1.4 kg) boneless lamb shoulder

+ 2 pounds (900 g) lean boneless lamb foreshank or hind shank

+ 2 tablespoons (1.2 ounces/34 g) sea salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

______ or

2½ pounds (1.2 kg) boneless lamb shoulder

+ 2½ pounds (1.2 kg) boneless pork picnic

+ 2 tablespoons (1.2 ounces/34 g) sea salt

Pork

4½ pounds (2 kg) boneless pork picnic

+ 8 ounces (225 g) pork back fat

______ or

5 pounds (2.3 kg) boneless pork Boston butt

+ 2 tablespoons (1.2 ounces/34 g) fine sea salt

Beef

5 pounds (2.3 kg) untrimmed beef chuck or brisket

+ 2 tablespoons (1.2 ounces/34 g) sea salt

____ or

3 pounds (1.4 kg) untrimmed beef such as chuck or brisket

+ 2 pounds (900 g) pork Boston butt

+ 2 tablespoons (1.2 ounces/34 g) sea salt

Breakfast Sausage And Seasoning

Basic Sausage Recipe:

Pork

Spices:

1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon ground cayenne

⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 allspice berry, ground

1 tablespoon minced garlic

Grind:

Medium

Garnish:

½ cup (30 g) finely chopped fresh sage

Casing:

Lamb

Farmer’s Sausage And Seasoning

Basic Sausage Recipe:

Pork

Spices:

1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon toasted and ground aniseeds

1 teaspoon ground cayenne

Grind:

Medium

Garnish:

1½ cups (360 ml) dry red wine reduced to ½ cup (120 ml)

2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Casing:

Pork

Fennel Sausage And Seasoning

Basic Sausage Recipe:

Pork

Spices:

2 tablespoons toasted and ground fennel seeds

1½ teaspoons freshly ground pepper

2 teaspoons ground dried oregano

4 teaspoons minced garlic

Grind:

Medium

Garnish:

½ cup (30 g) chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 tablespoons whole fennel seeds, toasted

1 tablespoon chile flakes

¼ cup (60 ml) dry white wine

Casing:

Lamb

Spicy Italian Sausage And Seasoning

Basic Sausage Recipe:

Pork

Spices:

3 tablespoons toasted and ground fennel seeds

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

4 teaspoons ground chile flakes

1 tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon minced garlic

Grind:

Medium

Garnish:

2 tablespoons dry white wine

Casing:

Pork

Sweet Italian Sausage And Seasoning

Basic Sausage Recipe:

Pork

Spices:

3 tablespoons toasted and ground fennel seeds

1½ teaspoons toasted and ground aniseeds

3 allspice berries, ground

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon ground dried oregano

1 tablespoon minced garlic

Grind:

Medium

Garnish:

½ cup (30 g) chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

¼ cup (60 ml) dry white wine

Casing:

Pork

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Description: Foie gras is the fattened liver of either duck or goose produced by a special feeding process. Foie gras is a luxurious product at once velvety and meaty.  Duck and goose foie gras have always been considered a rare delicacy and are usually reserved for special occasions.

Meat Characteristics: Foie gras is smooth and rich with a subtle and complex flavor. Goose liver is delicate and unctuous; duck liver is rich and earthy. Goose liver is best for terrines; duck liver is best for searing.

How much should I buy: Buy as much foie gras as you can afford; a typical portion weighs 2 to 4 ounces.

Common Flavor Combinations: Allspice, apples, bacon, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, cloves, cognac, figs, grapes, mangoes, nutmeg, pears, port wine, raisins, shallots, truffles, white truffle oil.