Ingredient
What is Finocchio?
Pronounced /fee-NOH-kyoh/
Definition
Finocchio is fennel — the bulb as a vegetable and the seed as the spice that defines Italian sausage.
Cracked fennel seed is what makes a pork sausage taste Italian rather than like a breakfast link. Toast the seeds and crush them lightly before mixing.
The raw bulb sliced thin with olive oil, lemon, and salt is one of the best things to serve next to anything rich.
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Sweet vs. Hot Italian Sausage
Fennel or chili — what actually separates the two, and when to use each.
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How to Grill Italian Sausage Without Bursting
Two-zone heat, no piercing, no split casings.
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Kool-Aid Crash
Forget knocking. Larry crashes through the kitchen wall in a giant red pitcher costume, sausage in hand. Sally takes one look at the entrance and starts calculating the repair bill. Oh, yeah? Oh, no.
Quick answer
What should I serve for an Italian Sunday dinner?
A classic Italian Sunday dinner runs in courses: an antipasto (a board or marinated olives), a first course of pasta or Sunday gravy, a meat course with a simple side, and a small dessert with coffee. Keep portions modest per course and do the slow cooking in the morning.