Description
Spicy pepperjack cheese sausage brings zesty comfort to dinner tables with bold Mexican-inspired flavors. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, promising a delightful meal you’ll savor with each satisfying bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground pork
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) pepperjack cheese, shredded
Aromatics and Herbs:
- 1/4 cup (40 grams) finely chopped jalapenos
- 1/4 cup (40 grams) finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Sausage casings
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly blend ground pork with crumbled pepperjack cheese, diced jalapenos, minced onion, crushed garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, freshly ground black pepper, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes until ingredients are uniformly distributed.
- For casing preparation, submerge sausage casings in cool water following manufacturer’s recommendations, then thoroughly rinse and set aside.
- When utilizing casings, carefully transfer meat mixture into sausage stuffer, ensuring consistent pressure to fill casings without air pockets. Secure ends and create uniform links by twisting at regular intervals.
- Preheat grill or cast-iron skillet to medium-high temperature around 375°F. Arrange sausages, allowing each side to caramelize for 6-7 minutes, rotating periodically to achieve even browning and ensure internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- After cooking, allow sausages to rest for 3-4 minutes to redistribute internal moisture. Slice diagonally and accompany with complementary condiments or nestle within toasted artisan rolls.
Notes
- Cheese Selection Matters: Choose a high-quality pepperjack cheese with good melting properties to ensure maximum flavor and texture throughout the sausage.
- Spice Adjustability: Modify the heat level by increasing or decreasing jalapenos and red pepper flakes to suit personal spice tolerance without compromising overall taste.
- Binding Technique: Add breadcrumbs or a small amount of cold water while mixing ingredients to help prevent sausage from becoming dry and maintain better moisture retention.
- Alternative Cooking Methods: Besides grilling or pan-frying, these sausages can be baked in the oven at 375F for 20-25 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking for even browning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-16 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg