Homemade Spicy Turkey Sausage

Photo: flickr user The Gifted Photographer

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds turkey meat diced

1/2 cup chopped garlic

6 teaspoons chili powder

4 tablespoons paprika

2 teaspoons cayenne

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

2 teaspoons onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Sausage casings - (1 1/2" dia) as needed

Preparation

In a large mixing bowl, add the turkey. In a small mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients together. Mix well. Toss the turkey with the seasoning blend and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Grind the meat twice in a meat grinder fitted with a 1/2-inch die. A food processor could also be used to grind the meat. Stuff half of the mixture into 1 1/2-inch casings, forming 6-inch links. Form the remaining into 3 (1/2 pound) patties. You can either use the sausage fresh or smoke the sausage.

For the smoked sausage: Prepare the smoker. Place the sausage in the smoker and cook for 10 to 15 minutes.

This recipe yields about 2 3/4 pounds.

Yield: 2 3/4 pounds