Best Italian Fennel Sausage Recipes

ITALIAN FENNEL SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine salt, fennel seed and red-pepper flakes. Add pork to the spice mixture along with the garlic, and wine. Using your hands, mix thoroughly for 1 full minute, until the pork begins to appear tacky and sticks to the palm of your hand.
• Heat a cast-iron pan over medium heat. Use a heaping tablespoon of pork mixture to make a small, thin sausage patty. Add a teaspoon or so of olive oil, and cook the patty for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Taste, and if needed, add salt or any other seasonings to the uncooked sausage mixture and mix to combine.
• Divide and form the remaining sausage into 8 2 1/2-inch patties, placing them on the prepared baking sheet as you go. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to come together. (Patties can be made ahead and covered and refrigerated or frozen at this point until ready to use.)
• To cook, wipe out cast-iron pan, and return to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. When it shimmers, add patties in a single layer, leaving space between them. Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until browned on the surface and just cooked through.
• Drain sausages on paper towels, and serve hot.

BAKED RIGATONI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until almost tender, about 10 minutes.
• Fry the sausages in a large skillet over medium heat, turning frequently until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from the skillet, cool slightly and slice into rounds. Add the garlic, fennel and onion to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes, then add the roasted red peppers, basil, sliced sausage and pasta sauce. Heat through over low heat until warmed.
• Combine the pasta with the sauce and vegetables in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread the mozzarella, Parmesan and Asiago cheeses over the top. Garnish with a few fennel leaves left from the bulb. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, then remove the aluminum foil. Set the oven to broil, and cook for another 5 minutes or until cheese is browned.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH FENNEL, PEPPERS, AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Toss together all ingredients except fennel fronds with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large shallow baking pan. Broil 4 inches from heat until sausage is browned and vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Turn over and stir, then broil until sausage is just cooked through and vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes more. Serve sprinkled with fennel fronds.

TORTELLINI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE, FENNEL, AND MUSHROOM

Steps:

• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced fennel bulb, sausage, and mushrooms; sauté until sausage is brown and cooked through and fennel is almost tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Add garlic and fennel seeds; stir 1 minute. Stir in cream, then 1 cup broth; boil until liquid is reduced and very slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook tortellini in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain tortellini; return to same pot.
• Add sausage mixture to tortellini in pot. Toss over medium heat until blended. Add spinach; toss gently until spinach wilts. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese; add more broth by 1/4 cupfuls to moisten if dry. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with chopped fennel fronds, and serve, passing additional cheese.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND FENNEL SOUP

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat; saute sausage until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Remove sausage, reserving drippings in pot., In same pot, heat remaining oil over medium heat; saute fennel, carrots and onion 8 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add potatoes, beans, broth and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10 minutes., Stir in tomatoes, salt, pepper and sausage; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

RIGATONI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND FENNEL

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet, cook sausage over moderate heat, stirring and breaking up any lumps until it is cooked through; transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain oil.
• Add olive oil to skillet;
• Add sliced onions and garlic; cook over moderate-low heat, stirring, until onion is softened.
• Add the bell peppers and sliced fennel; cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until the bell pepper and fennel are softened.
• Add the wine and broth; bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Add cream and boil the mixture until it is thickened slightly and reduced by about one third.
• Cook pasta until al dente; drain.
• Mix fennel, sausage mixture into pasta.
• Serve immediately with grated Parmesan.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat oil in large deep skillet over high heat. Add bell pepper, sliced fennel, Italian sausage, and fennel seeds, and sauté until sausage is brown and vegetables are just tender, about 10 minutes. Add clam juice, and bring to boil. Add clams and oregano; reduce heat to medium-high, cover, and cook just until clams open, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with pepper. Divide among 4 bowls, discarding any unopened clams. Sprinkle with chopped fennel fronds and serve.

SWEET ITALIAN FENNEL SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a bowl combine the pork, curing salt, black pepper, fennel seeds, garlic, sugar and cayenne pepper. Mix to make sure seasonings are well distributed throughout the pork. Freeze for 30 minutes.
• To prepare the forcemeat, pass the mixture through a meat grinder using the large hole plate. Transfer to an electric mixer, using the paddle on the lowest speed, and mix for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and slowly add the stock and mix for 2 minutes. Switch to high speed and mix for 30 seconds.
• To form the sausages, place about a cup of forcemeat in a 12 by 16-inch piece of plastic wrap. Shape into a 1 1/2 by 8-inch sausage and wrap with the plastic to a tight roll. Tie both ends by forming a knot. Wrap again in aluminum foil. Repeat the process until all forcemeat is used.
• In a large saute pan bring court bouillon to a simmer. Poach the prepared sausages for 10 minutes or until firm to the touch. Allow to cool and unwrap sausages. In a cast iron pan, over high heat, saute the sausages in olive oil until nicely browned. Slice and serve with honey mustard and minced onion.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH FENNEL AND SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, chopped fennel, and fennel seeds; sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add sausage and cook until browned, breaking up lumps with back of spoon and stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Stir in oregano, tomatoes with juice, and wine; increase heat and bring to boil. Add clams, cover skillet, and cook until clams open (discard any clams that do not open), about 5 minutes. Divide among bowls; sprinkle parsley over and serve.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE TURKEY BURGERS AND FENNEL SLAW

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet over medium heat warm about 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil. When hot add in chopped onions and cook until wilted. Stir in minced garlic, basil and oregano. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the ground turkey, sausage and cooled onion mixture. Add fennel fronds and chili sauce to meat. Season with salt and black pepper. Mix only to combine and shape into 4 patties. Allow to rest at room temperature while preparing slaw.
• In a medium bowl toss together together the fennel, cabbage and green onions. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, vinegar and sugar. Pour over salad ingredients tossing to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat a heavy skillet or flat griddle over medium high heat. Drizzle the burgers with olive oil and place oiled side down on preheated pan. Cook turning once until cooked through, approximately 5 minutes per side for 3/4 inch patties. When turning drizzle top with olive oil before turning.
• When burgers are cooked through turn off heat, top with a slice of cheese. Tent with foil and let stand for 2 minutes. Place burgers on individual serving plates with the slaw, garnish with fennel fronds and enjoy.

TORTELLINI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE, FENNEL, AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• •Test-Kitchen Tip To crush the fennel seeds, enclose the seeds in a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag, then pound them with a meat mallet or a small heavy skillet. Preparation •Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced fennel bulb, sausage, and mushrooms; sauté until sausage is brown and cooked through and fennel is almost tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Add garlic and fennel seeds; stir 1 minute. Stir in cream, then 1 cup broth; boil until liquid is reduced and very slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. •Meanwhile, cook tortellini in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain tortellini; return to same pot. •Add sausage mixture to tortellini in pot. Toss over medium heat until blended. Add spinach; toss gently until spinach wilts. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese; add more broth by 1/4 cupfuls to moisten if dry. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with chopped fennel fronds, and serve, passing additional cheese.

TORTELLINI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE, FENNEL AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oil, add sliced fennel bulb, sausage and mushrooms, saute until sausage is cooked and fennel is almost tender. Add garlic and fennel seed, stir one minute. Stir in cream, then broth, boil until liquid is reduced and thickened, 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile cook tortellini until just tender, drain and return to pot. Add sausage mixture to pot, toss until blended, add spinach and toss until wilted. Add 1/2 c cheese and additional broth if too dry. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with fennel fronds.

BRAISED FENNEL, CANNELLINI BEANS, AND ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Prick sausage casings with a fork or tip of sharp knife. Cook sausage links in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 8 minutes, turning often to brown all sides.
• Place chopped fennel bulbs and next 6 ingredients in a lightly greased (with cooking spray) 5-qt. slow cooker. Top with sausage in a single layer. Cover and cook on LOW 5 hours or until vegetables are tender and sausage is cooked.
• Transfer sausage to a cutting board; cool slightly. Cut sausage diagonally into 3/4-inch-thick pieces.
• Stir sausage, beans, and radicchio into fennel mixture in slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH 15 minutes or until radicchio is wilted and tender. Top with cheese, and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND LENTILS WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the lentils with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cover part-way to simmer for about 10 minutes (the lentils should be cooked just part-way through (there should be some liquid in the pan still).
• In a large skillet, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add the sausage and cook over medium-high heat, tossing regularly and breaking the sausage up with a wooden spoon, until fully cooked and browned.
• Push the sausage to one side of the skillet and add the fennel, garlic, onion, carrots, and fennel seed. Add broth and red wine vinegar.
• Add the par-boiled lentils to the sausage and fennel skillet. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let simmer, partially covered, for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Taste and adjust seasoning. To serve, drizzle a bit of extra virgin olive oil on top. Serve immediately with your favorite crusty bread

GEMELLI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND FENNEL

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet, cook sausage over moderate heat, breaking into irregularly sized pieces around 3/4 inch untll browned and transfer to towel and drain. Add oil to skillet and cook fennel and garlic over medium low heat, until soft - about 5 minutes. Add wine, stock and bring to boil, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream and cook until thickened and reduced by 1/3. Cook gemelli until al dente - drain reserving 1 cup pasta liquid. To pasta, add sausage, fennel mixture and arugula. Stir until arugula wilts - add hot pasta liquid if necessary. Stir in grated Parmesan and egg yolks and Stir until mixed in. Add salt and pepper to taste

STEAMED CLAMS WITH FENNEL AND SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, chopped fennel, and fennel seeds; sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add sausage and cook until browned, breaking up lumps with back of spoon and stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Stir in oregano, tomatoes with juice, and wine; increase heat and bring to boil. Add clams, cover skillet, and cook until clams open (discard any clams that do not open), about 5 minutes. Divide among bowls; sprinkle parsley over and serve