Growing up, I used to enjoy eating Brown n’ Serve Sausage for breakfast. You could just heat them up quickly in a pan or in the microwave. Recently I looked up the ingredients: Pork, Mechanically Separated Turkey, Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Contains less than 2% of: Salt, Sugar, Dextrose, Flavoring, Maple Flavor (Natural Flavor, Caramel Color, Maple Syrup), Brown Sugar, Maple Sugar, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, BHA, BHT.
These days I’m trying to make healthier choices, like using organic meats and poultry, cutting back on sugar and processed foods. This recipe for Spicy Turkey Breakfast Sausage is not only healthy, but even more delicious than any ready-made sausage you can buy.
It comes together very quickly, and you can even double the recipe and freeze some of the patties so they can be ready anytime!
You start by sauteing some finely chopped onions in a little oil until they are browned. The sweetness of the caramelized onions really adds to the flavor of the turkey so that no sugar is necessary. I also add a bit of fresh garlic at the end. Set them aside to cool.
Next, get all of the spices ready. I use salt, pepper, thyme, sage, rosemary, paprika and cayenne. I know that I call this Spicy Turkey Breakfast Sausage, but it’s really more from the flavorful spices than from heat, where it would burn your tongue. The small bit of cayenne just adds a nice little kick. Feel free to add more if you really like things spicy.
Then you mix up the spices, the cooked onions and garlic, and a pound of ground turkey, and separate into 8 small patties. They don’t have to be perfect.
At this point, you can pop them in a 425 degree oven for about 10 minutes, or you can saute them in a skillet for a few minutes on each side. They cook quickly because they’re so small.
Once you try these, you won’t want to buy processed, ready-made sausages again!
Spicy Turkey Breakfast Sausage
Servings: 4
- 4 teaspoons avocado (or olive) oil, divided
- 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground turkey, preferably organic
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions:
In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, saute the onion along with a pinch of salt in two teaspoons of oil for 5-6 minutes, until soft and caramelized. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 30 seconds. Remove the onion and garlic to a medium bowl and let cool.
Add the ground turkey and all of the spices to the bowl with the onions and garlic. Mix thoroughly to combine. Form 8 small patties.
Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil to the skillet and cook the sausage patties, about 4 minutes on each side, or until done. Alternatively, you can bake the patties at 425 degrees for about 10 minutes, turning after 5 minutes.