Yep, it’s that time of year again…time to make sausage.
I’ve told this story before, but when I was growing up, it was tradition in my family to make sausage on New Year’s Day.
We hunted between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and would take 2 deer and a pig.
Dad and I would make venison sausage (while my mom cleaned up the mess!).
My folks are gone now, but I still make sausage of some sort every year.
No venison this year, so I’m making fresh sweet Italian, and pork sausage with white wine and parmesan cheese.
I’m making it a little early this year, because I have to leave town on a business trip Monday.
Today was prep day. I cut up 20Kg of pork butt, and broke it into two batches.
Meat/fat is 70/30.
I use metric measurements because it’s easier to get the right salt to meat ratio.
Typically, one should use 15g kosher salt per Kg of meat.
The basic recipe, per Kg is:
1Kg pork, between 80/20 and 70/30. I like 70/30 as it keeps the finished product more moist. Cut the pork/fat into 2” chunks.
15g kosher salt per Kg meat.
1/4 cup red wine vinegar.
1 Tbs fennel seeds. (Soak them in the red wine vinegar for about 20 mins).
2 Tbs fresh parsley, finely chopped.
2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper.
1 Tsp granulated garlic.
1 teaspoon dried oregano (I used fresh).
1 teaspoon dried thyme (I used fresh).
I chose to jazz it up a bit with 1 teaspoon of fresh sage.
The white wine and parmesan recipe is similar.
Same meat/fat ratio, same amount of salt per Kg of meat.
1/2 cup white wine (I used Sauv Blanc, but you do you).
2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper.
2 Tbs fresh parsley, finely chopped.
1Tsp granulated garlic. Roasted garlic would be amazing.
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese. (Don’t use the Kraft shit in a can!).
I mix my batches up, and refrigerate at least overnight. This allows the flavors to come together. Make SURE the meat is evenly coated with the salt, and herbs.
You should get your meat mixture as cold as possible without freezing it. You should also put the metal parts of your meat grinder in the freezer. You want everything COLD so the fat won’t smear when you grind it.
Tomorrow, I’ll grind each batch up and stuff into casings.
I had a couple of pounds of leftover pork chunks, so as a bonus, I’m making pork carnitas. They need to simmer for a few hours…this will be good in some tortillas with pickled red onion, cojita cheese, and a vinegar based slaw on top. Just sayen…
More tomorrow.