Italian sausage

My stuffing recipe calls for Italian sausage, but I haven't been able to find any. Morrisons, Co-Op and M&S were a no go. Any ideas for finding it or substitutions?

1) http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bmUID=1258714728570

2) Google copycat recipes & make your own sausage

3) Look for an Italian deli/specialist shop in your area (Newcastle ought to have one!) to see what they might have, except except what Americans think of as Italian sausage might possibly be an American invention and not genuinely Italian at all ?

(the Sainsburys one comes pretty close though!  enough for me)

You probably won't find American "Italian sausage" at an Italian deli, although if you describe it they may have something similar.

Mrs Robinson's link won't work for me so I may be recommending the same thing, but Sainsburys do what they call a "Sicilian Sausage" which is pretty similar, it has that slightly sweet red wine and fennel flavour going on.

Mrs Robinson's link won't work for me so I may be recommending the same thing, but Sainsburys do what they call a "Sicilian Sausage" which is pretty similar, it has that slightly sweet red wine and fennel flavour going on.

Yes, that's the one!  Sorry for the dodgy link - it was working on our other browser but maybe it was already 'cookied' there or something.  It's one of their Taste the Difference range - Sicilian Sausage.  It's mild - not hot, in the US you can usually get either mild or hot Italian sausage.

Makes me want to drive there right now & get some!  It's good. 

Thought it might be the same ones.  We like them too and they're not terrible value (£2 for 6 I think.)

If the OP can't get to a Sainsburys then doctoring some normal sausage meat with a splash of red wine and some fennel seeds will get pretty close flavour-wise (maybe a dash of chilli for heat) especially if it's an ingredient in something else.

The main difference between Italian or Italian-American sausages as compared to a British ones is that the meat in Italian sausages is more of a mince and in British sausages it tends to be ground more finely.

Even the sausages I buy at my favourite Italian deli grinds the meat too finely for my taste.

The Sainsbury Sicilian sausage uses more of a mince and would work well in your recipe I think. If you can’t find it, any pork sausage with a thicker mince or even pork mince itself cooked with some herbs, like oregano, fennel, basil, and a splash of wine would make a fine substitute.

She..pie, where are you located?

I bought some Italian sausage at a stand this summer and it was just like the regular Italian, but not the sweet, at home.  It was some organic butcher, but maybe the owner was American. 

Try making your own with pork mince (which will help combat the weird texture you get by using 'sausagemeat' as such).

I stopped at Sainsbury's and got the Sicilian sausage. I'll let you
know how it goes. Thanks every one!!

1) http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bmUID=1258714728570

2) Google copycat recipes & make your own sausage

3) Look for an Italian deli/specialist shop in your area (Newcastle ought to have one!) to see what they might have, except except what Americans think of as Italian sausage might possibly be an American invention and not genuinely Italian at all ?

(the Sainsburys one comes pretty close though!  enough for me)

Yes, "Italian sausage" is an American concept. It's fennel that gives Italian-American sausage its taste. Just use pork mince, bread crumbs, fennel, onion and garlic to make your own (my husband loves my meatballs!)

I've been making my own...but think I will give the sicilian ones a try this year for my stuffing...maybe a bit of chili pepper to add some hotness

The Sicilian sausage was pretty good, and will make an adequate substitute in my stuffing. I think I'll season it up a bit with chili powder, too, actually. Thanks!!!

Cool, I keep a look out for them