Making sausages for the first time

[Anchundan]

Firstly, I know there are a few posts about sausages, e.g. 'Captain Planets Sausage', but the photos don't show up for some reason (I am in China).

I've had a sausage machine for a couple of years, which I've never plucked up courage to use. But I should, as the sausages out here are horrible. I have recently found sausage skins, and can now order most herbs and spices online. So I'm going to have a crack at this.

The problem I am having is, for a first time attempt, what quantity should I be making, and how much pork makes how many sausages? Is it ok to buy minced pork, or should I buy sections of pork meat (which don't look too fatty)?

Any suggestions for a good beginners first-time breakfast sausage recipe (with quantities)?

 

[FrenchTart]

Get 1-2kg of pork meat (you do want it fatty as otherwise your sausages will suck - pork shoulder is good, with a small amount of pork belly).

Trim off any silverskin and cut it all the meat and fat into 1.5 inch cubes. Stick them (and your mincer if you can) in the freezer for an hour or two before use. You want everything super cold for best results.

Try something like 1% of your pork weight in salt, 1% black pepper for a really simple sausage recipe. Adding 0.5% sage and/or thyme will also be nice.

 

[Maccapacca]

Yes sage and thyme in pork yum yum, it's what I put in my scotch eggs nom nom nom

Also had some supermarket sausages yesterday bleurgh disgusting

 

[FrenchTart]

I really need to get a sage plant growing actually. I don't use sage anywhere near enough in my cooking.

I don't mind some supermarket sausages though I admit the ones I like probably account for about 1% of the ones available.