Italian sausage in England?

Where do you find Italian sausage here in England?  You know -- it may not really be Italian in the international sense of the word -- but the stuff you buy in America as Italian sausage (hot or mild) with the fennel seeds & all?

I did manage to find some at Sainsburys (labeled as Sainsburys brand 'Sicilian' variety) - but it's often sold out (good ole empty-shelf Sainsburys) by the time we get there.  There's another one they sell as 'Italian sausage' under a Harrogate brand name -- my husband said 'this is nice' & I said no it's not nice because it doesn't have any fennel seeds in it & therefore, shouldn't be calling itself Italian sausage.  Other than that -- I've come up empty-handed.

I'm not in London -- so I can't do Carluccios, Harrods, or Fortnum & Mason.  'Spose I could look 'round at Harvey Nics 'cause I've heard they carry some American foods there?

Carolyn B

Try www.savoria.co.uk. They have a home delivery service -- not sure if they do sausage, though.

CostCo has some , Ive had it and its not so bad. It is not like the stuff I used to buy in Chicago. But when it comes to certain "Italian" type foods, that seem authentic in the states. They dont exist in Italy. Chicago is known for its Italian beef sandwiches. You wont find one anywhere in Italy. I think the sausage you are thinking about might be difficult to locate here in England.

 jc

Kinda like 'Chicago-style pizza' is just 'pizza' in Chicago?

Carolyn

CostCo has some , Ive had it and its not so bad. It is not like the stuff I used to buy in Chicago.

Oh yeah, the Italian beef, the Gyro and a good Flukey's hotdog! yummy!

I have been here for four years and havent found anything close to Chicago style Italian sausage. I dont belong to Costco

Sausages. Ah, you're making me hungry. Yes, UK supermarkets tend to translate Italian sausage as "it's sausage, and it's from Italy"  

There are plenty of good British sausages. I just ordered some fantastic venison sausages from Caledonian Connoisseur: http://www.caleyco.com/products/meat/venison/nicholas_original_venison_sausages

But the fennel version of "Italian sausage" CAN be found in deli's and butchers. Perhaps trickier when, as you say, you're not in London, but there are places e.g. http://www.procters-sausages.co.uk/  that do mail order.

This site: http://www.sausagelinks.co.uk/ may help you find the sausage of your dreams in your neighborhood.

Good luck. And now I'm starvin'.

Try Salvo's Salumeria and Delicatessen in Headingley  (one of the first shops on the right hand side if you're heading into Leeds. They've run the restaurant next door for years and have now opened a cafe and delicatessen selling all kinds of Italian imports (and also very good local ham and cold beef).

Cool!  Thanks, HME -- also to everyone else for the links & suggestions.  I think I've actually seen that place on my way into Leeds before, and wondered!

Carolyn

I make my own.  Here is the Recipe:

Homemade Sweet Italian Pork Sausage
Recipe by: Chef John J. Vyhnanek
History: Less fatty than commercially prepared.  So easy to make---you will never buy store made again.
Description: All natural homemade Italian style sweet sausage!
Serving Size: makes about 6 patties
Preparation Time: about 30 minutes
 
Amount/Measure/Ingredient
1 lb. fresh ground pork, about 80 % lean
1 tsp. ground black pepper, fresh ground if possible
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. clear corn syrup thinned with 1 tsp. cold water
2 tbsp. parsley, chopped coarsely
1 tbsp. basil, fresh and chopped like the parsley
½  tsp. oregano, dried
2 dashes nutmeg
½ tsp. garlic, fresh chopped

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients well, then form into 6 equal portions and press into patties.  Brown  on both sides and cook through. Use in your favorite recipes!

For hot sausage---add 2 tsp. paprika, 1 tsp. crushed fennel seeds, 1 tsp. dried hot pepper flakes with no seeds and increase the garlic to 2 tsp.

I make my own too....the recipe is exactly the same as the one above, minus the corn syrup and with 1 clove of garlic instead of 1/2 tsp.  I just make it in patties and freeze them in a ziploc bag.

mmmmm. i think i'm going to try this!!!!

I made this for tea tonight.  We ate half and I froze the other half.  With some sautéed peppers and onions, sauce and crusty bread, it was almost like mom's:

Homemade Italian Sausage
1 pound ground pork
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon crushed thyme
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Thoroughly mix seasonings into pork.  May refrigerate covered to allow flavours to "marry".  Shape into patties and brown or crumble and brown for use in a recipe.

 

I took a  note of some of these recipes, intending to make my own Italian sausage sometime soon.  But while i was in Sainsbury's buying our usual pancetta & parmesan sausages, i noticed the 'Sicilian' ones that Carolyn B  mentioned in the original post, so i bought a packet of those to try....

I took the sausages out of their skins and fried them up as mince, like the stuff you get on pizzas in California... and it tasted identical to the stuff i grew up with!  So thanks for that, Carolyn!

Next time you see them in Sainsbury's, buy several packets and freeze them!

  I took the sausages out of their skins and fried them up as mince, like the stuff you get on pizzas in California... and it tasted identical to the stuff i grew up with!  So thanks for that, Carolyn!

Next time you see them in Sainsbury's, buy several packets and freeze them!

You're welcome.  The 'Sicilian' ones are lovely -- so IF Sainsburys has some left on the shelf -- I usually buy at least a couple packs & toss them in the freezer.  Someday when my life is in order & all is running smoothly (I can dream, can't I?) -- perhaps I will try my hand at making it from scratch.