Ingredients
10 lb (5 quarts) Trimmed Pork Shoulder*
70 grams (10 t) salt
40 grams (10 t) sugar
26 grams (7 lg) garlic cloves
28 grams (5 T) whole fennel seed
18 grams (5 t) whole black peppercorns
29 grams (10 T) dried basil
13 grams (5 T) whole coriander seeds
1 bunch fresh basil, stem removed and minced
6 oz (3/4 cup) cold water
2 oz (1/4 cup) cold red wine vinegar
Sausage Casings (optional)
Instructions
For a more detailed step-by-step, check out How To Make Sausage before making this recipe.
Place the removeable parts of your meat grinder and mixing into the fridge or freezer to cool it for at least 30 minutes.
Measure out the water and red wine vinegar into a small container and place it in the fridge.
In a dry frying pan set over medium heat, add the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns and toast until fragrant. Set aside to cool. Once cooled, place in a spice grinder (or mortal with pestle) and grind into a fine powder.
Grate the garlic cloves on a Microplane over a medium mixing bowl. Add to the bowl the toasted ground seeds, salt, sugar, and basil (fresh and dry).
Reassemble the meat grinder with the chilled parts. Grind the meat through the medium die into a chilled mixing bowl.
Reassemble the meat mixer with the chilled parts. Transfer the ground meat and the spices to the meat mixer and begin mixing (about 30 seconds to 1 minute). Add the chilled liquids and continue mixing on medium speed for another 4 1/2 minutes (total of 5 minutes).
When it is done the sausage meat will look tacky. You cannot really overmix it (unless it gets warm) but you can undermix it. If you are not sure, cook up a small patty in a frying pan to test the texture.
At this point, you can package the sausage up as bulk for patties or sauces, or you can stuff into casings for links.
Notes
You can substitute some or all of the pork for boneless skinless chicken thighs for a leaner option. Just make sure to inspect the chicken pieces well for little bone/cartilage fragments.