Italian sausage is a versatile and tasty basis for any meal. Traditional Italian sausage contains pork and sometimes veal, but if you are looking for a low-fat alternative, turkey Italian sausage is also available. Cooking Italian sausage is not difficult. Pan-frying it and then braising it in sauce ensures that the sausage cooks through without scorching the casing or drying out the ground filling. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the sausage is safely done.
Step 1
Heat a large skillet over medium heat for 45 seconds to one minute.
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Step 2
Coat the bottom of the skillet with olive oil and let it heat just until you can smell the oil.
Step 3
Add your Italian sausages. Stand back because sometimes they spit and splatter when they touch the hot oil.
Step 4
Cook the sausages for three to five minutes, turning them with tongs rather than a fork to keep from puncturing them.
Step 5
Add just enough tomato sauce to the skillet to cover the bottom when the sausages are cooked on all sides.
Step 6
Turn the heat to low and cover the skillet. Cook the sausages for at least 30 minutes.
Step 7
Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the thickest sausage, making sure not to poke it through to the hot pan. Prok sausages are done at 160 degrees Fahrenheit; turkey sausages are ready at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Things You'll Need
Skillet with lid
Olive oil
Tongs
Tomato sauce
Instant-read thermometer
Tip
Add julienned peppers and onion to the pan while the sausage is frying for a quick and simple sandwich filling.
Warning
Always rely on the thermometer reading to determine the internal temperature of the sausage.
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