Ingredients
1 garlic clove, minced
2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped and stems discarded
20 coriander seeds
1/4 teaspoon anise seeds
12 juniper berries
1 pound ground pork
1 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
1
In a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind the garlic, thyme leaves, coriander seeds, anise seeds and juniper berries.
2
In a medium bowl, combine the pork with salt, pepper, and spices.
3
Chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
4
Form pork into eight 2-ounce patties. In a non-stick pan, sauté the sausage patties over medium-low heat until nicely browned, about 5 minutes per side.
5
Serve with some smashed taters, hash browns, or grits. Or, make a kick-ass biscuit sandwich with some scrambled eggs and cheese.
Key Points About Ingredients:
- Juniper berries lend a piney, slightly citrusy flavor that is the hallmark of classic charcuterie and game seasonings — use fresh or dried berries and crush them well to release their essential oils.
- Coriander seeds add a warm, floral nuttiness that complements the pork beautifully; toasting them lightly before grinding intensifies their flavor.
- Fresh thyme brings an earthy herbal backbone to the sausage — strip leaves carefully from the woody stems to avoid any fibrous texture in the finished patty.
- Ground pork with a moderate fat content (around 20%) is ideal here, providing the juiciness and richness needed for a satisfying sausage patty.
- Chilling the seasoned pork mixture for a full hour before cooking is crucial — it allows the spices to bloom into the meat and helps the patties hold their shape during cooking.
Key Nutritional Insights:
- Each sausage patty delivers roughly 18 grams of protein, making it a satisfying high-protein start to the day.
- Ground pork provides B vitamins — particularly B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), and B12 — which are essential for energy metabolism.
- Juniper berries and coriander seeds contribute trace antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, adding a functional wellness bonus to every bite.
- At approximately 210 calories per patty, this sausage is a reasonable and filling breakfast protein when paired with vegetables or whole grains.
- The sodium content is moderate at around 310 mg per serving — lower than most commercial breakfast sausages, giving you more control over your daily intake.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size1
- Amount per serving
- Calories210
- Standard DV% Daily Value*
- Total Fat15 g72 g20.83%
- Saturated Fat5.5 g20 g27.5%
- Trans Fat0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat1.8 g
- Monounsaturated Fat6.5 g
- Cholesterol55 mg300 mg18.33%
- Sodium310 mg2300 mg13.48%
- Total Carbohydrate1 g275 g0.36%
- Dietary Fiber0.4 g28 g1.43%
- Total Sugars0 g
- Added Sugars0 g50 g0%
- Sugar Alcohal0 g
- Protein18 g50 g36%
- Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)8 mcg20 mcg40%
- Calcium18 mg1300 mg1.38%
- Iron1.1 mg18 mg6.11%
- Potassium280 mg4700 mg5.96%
- Vitamin A15 mcg900 mcg1.67%
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)1 mg90 mg1.11%
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)0.3 mg15 mg2%
- Vitamin K3 mcg120 mcg2.5%
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.5 mg1.2 mg41.67%
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.2 mg1.3 mg15.38%
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)4.2 mg16 mg26.25%
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)0.4 mg1.7 mg23.53%
- Folate4 mcg400 mcg1%
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)0.7 mcg2.4 mcg29.17%
- Biotin3 mcg30 mcg10%
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.8 mg5 mg16%
- Choline65 mg550 mg11.82%
- Phosphorus170 mg1250 mg13.6%
- Iodine2 mcg150 mcg1.33%
- Magnesium18 mg420 mg4.29%
- Zinc2.2 mg11 mg20%
- Selenium22 mcg55 mcg40%
- Copper0.07 mg0.9 mg7.78%
- Manganese0.1 mg2.3 mg4.35%
- Chromium2 mcg35 mcg5.71%
- Molybdenum4 mcg45 mcg8.89%
- Chloride60 mg2300 mg2.61%
