Description
A flavorful and spicy homemade summer sausage featuring ground beef blended with roasted red peppers and pickled jalapeños, infused with smoked paprika, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Oven-baked to perfection, this sausage is perfect for snacking, sandwiches, or appetizers.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
- 1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers (drained and patted dry)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped pickled jalapeños
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Spices and Flavorings
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon curing salt (optional, for preservation)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
Other Ingredients
- 1/4 cup ice water
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, diced roasted red peppers, chopped pickled jalapeños, minced garlic, mustard seeds, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, optional curing salt, crushed red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and ice water. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed and the mixture becomes tacky.
- Shape Sausage Logs: Divide the mixture in half and shape each portion into a firm log shape. Wrap each sausage log tightly in plastic wrap to maintain shape and moisture.
- Chill: Refrigerate the wrapped sausage logs for at least 12 hours or overnight. This resting time allows the flavors to meld and develop fully.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°F (95°C) to prepare for slow-baking the sausage logs.
- Bake Sausage: Remove the plastic wrap from the sausage logs and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 4 to 5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C), ensuring safe cooking and proper texture.
- Cool and Serve: Let the sausages cool slightly before slicing. Serve with cheese, crackers, or in sandwiches for a delicious snack or appetizer.
- Storage: Store leftover sausage in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for longer storage to maintain freshness.
Notes
- This sausage pairs wonderfully with cheese and crackers or makes a great sandwich filling.
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or less jalapeño to suit your heat preference.
- For a leaner version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or a beef-pork blend.
- Curing salt is optional but recommended if you plan to store the sausage for extended periods to preserve freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Oven-Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 oz
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
