Chef's Hat: The simplicity of sausage

Sausage is one of the foods that takes several forms – links, patties and ground - and it can be made from a variety of base ingredients, including pork, beef, turkey or chicken.

It is often used to perk up spaghetti, lasagna or pizza, but it can also be the main ingredient of a recipe.

This versatile meat is a staple in many households and restaurants. Yet, many people don’t know any of the interesting facts about the common and misunderstood sausage.

Sausage has been around for centuries. Books from ancient Rome and Greek cultures reference sausage meats.

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer pork, beef, turkey, lamb or no meat at all; there’s a sausage for you!

Sausage consists of chopped up meat, which is placed into a casing, along with other ingredients. These ingredients may include some kind of filler, such as breadcrumbs, various spices and flavorings to give it a mild, sweet or spicy taste.

Sausage is pretty much an umbrella term. Some varieties, such as chorizo and andouille, are highly seasoned.

Despite what some people think, salami is also a type of sausage and it is commonly used as a lunch meat, on snack trays or in an antipasto dish.

The longest sausage, as noted in the Guinness Book of World Records, was created in Romania in 2014. It was a whopping 38.99 miles long.

Besides pork, beef or turkey, sausage can come from plants. A variety of spices are then added to produce a product that resembles and tastes like the common sausage.

For the Sausage Sandwich recipe, it is best to use a mild, sweet Italian sausage. A harsher or more highly seasoned sausage tends to overpower the sandwich.

Need to liven up a salad? There is no better way than to add a few pieces of your favorite sausage.

Sausage is much more than a breakfast meat or a topping for pizza. It can be baked, grilled, broiled or even fried.

And there is a sausage for everyone’s tastebuds from a mild, sweet Italian sausage to the highly spiced Mexican chorizo.

Step out of your box and jazz up your dishes with a smattering of sausage. Happy Eating!

Donna Evans / Echo Journal Correspondent

• 6 sweet Italian sausages
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 slices provolone cheese
• 1 green or red pepper, thinly sliced
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 6 hoagie buns
• 1-2 tablespoons butter or margarine

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place the sausages on the baking sheet and then drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil over the sausages. Roll the sausages around so they all have an even coating of oil.

Bake the sausages for 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven, turn the sausages and then bake them for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly. If desired, the sausages can be grilled instead of baked.

Place a medium sized frying pan on the stove and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Turn to medium heat. Add the onions and peppers. Cook them over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until softened.

In a small bowl, mix the honey with the mustard and set it aside until assembling the sandwiches.

If desired, spread butter/margarine on the buns. Turn the oven to broil. Place the buns on a baking sheet and into the oven. Broil the buns for 3-5 minutes, just until the butter is melted and the buns start turning brown.

Place the buns on a plate, put in a sausage, drizzle the honey/mustard on each sausage and then top with the onion/pepper mixture and a slice of cheese. Serve immediately.

Photo illustration / Shutterstock.com

• 2-3 sausages - chicken, turkey or a desired flavor - cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 package mixed greens (5-6 ounces)
• 1 apple - peeled, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and cut into quarters
• 1 small cucumber, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3-4 tablespoons sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1-2 teaspoons sugar
• Salt
• Pepper

Place a medium sized skillet on the stove and cook sausages over medium heat. Cook for 4 minutes and turn. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, just until sausages are lightly browned. Remove sausages from the heat and set aside.

In a large salad bowl, combine the salad greens, strawberries, apple, cucumber and sunflower seeds. Toss to mix the ingredients.

In a small bowl or large measuring cup, combine the vinegar, honey, oil and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Taste. If it's too bitter, add an additional spoonful of sugar. Season with salt and pepper.

Place heaping amounts of salad onto individual serving dishes and top with the dressing.

Donna Evans is an Echo Journal correspondent.