Chicken Apple Sausage
This chicken apple sausage is surprisingly simple to make and has a slightly sweet lilt that's magnificent any time of day. Here's how to make it and how to cook it. No meat grinder required. And did I mention it's healthy?!
- Prep time
- 25 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 12 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (roughly chopped and frozen for 1 hour)
- 1/4 pound sliced bacon (roughly chopped and frozen for 1 hour)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (cold)
- 2 Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, grated, and squeezed dry)
- 2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds
- 2 teaspoons whole white or black peppercorns
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more as needed)
Instructions
- 1
Working in batches, place the chicken in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground, probably 6 to 8 pulses. Transfer to a large bowl.
- 2
Dump the bacon and butter in the food processor and pulse until coarsely ground, at least 6 times and perhaps 12 times.
- 3
Add the bacon and the butter to the chicken and stir by hand until combined. Add the apples and stir again.
- 4
In a spice mill or coffee grinder, grind the coriander seeds, fennel seeds, and peppercorns together to a medium-fine grind. Add the ground spices to the chicken mixture along with the salt, nutmeg, and cayenne. Mix with your fingertips until well blended.
- 5
Pinch off a small amount and heat it in a little oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, turning once, until cooked through. Taste and adjust the seasonings in the uncooked sausage mixture accordingly.
- 6
To make patties, using your hands, shape the sausage mixture into 12 to 15 patties, each about 3 inches (7 1/2 centimeters) in diameter and 1/2 inch (12 millimeters) thick.
- 7
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Working in batches, add the patties and cook until the bottom is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and cook until the patties are golden brown on the second side, 3 to 4 minutes. It may be necessary to add a touch more oil with subsequent batches.
- 8
Transfer the chicken apple sausage patties to paper towels to drain briefly, then serve.