Sausage & Peppers
What is Sweet Italian Sausage?
Pronounced /sweet ih-TAL-yun SAW-sij/
Definition
Sweet Italian sausage is fresh pork sausage seasoned without hot pepper, typically with garlic and often fennel seed.
In the US, sweet means mild rather than sugary. It is the default choice for a crowd and lets the peppers and onions shine.
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Related terms
More sausage & peppers terms
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Try this recipe
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Eggs, pecorino, guanciale, pepper. No cream, ever.
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Lasagna alla Bolognese
Slow ragù, béchamel, thin pasta. A weekend project worth doing.
Next watch
Drive-In Grease Lightning
Larry and Sally roll into Mel's Drive-In in the red hot rod — milkshake on the tray, sausages on the dash, and Larry's hair greased back to perfection. Danny Zuko never handled a link like this.
Quick answer
What can I use instead of fennel seed?
Use anise seed at half the amount — it is sweeter and stronger. Caraway seed works 1:1 with an earthier result, and dried tarragon at 1:1 covers the licorice note in sauces. For Italian sausage, anise is the closest match.