Easy
Spicy sausage sauce is a classic Italian dish that is both flavorful and satisfying. Imagine a Sunday afternoon with a pot of this cooking on the stove…delightful!
Spicy sausage sauce can be made with a variety of different ingredients, but one of the most important ingredients for this recipe is fennel seed.
If you aren’t familiar, fennel seed is a spice that has a slightly sweet and licorice-like flavor, but honestly not too much. Because of this description, I stayed away from it for years. I wish I hadn’t. It is often used in Italian sausage, so adding it to this sauce makes perfect flavor sense.
Benefits of Fennel
Believe it or not, fennel is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is also a good source of antioxidants. Fennel has been used for centuries to treat a variety of health conditions, gas, and bloating. In many cultures, fennel seeds are chewed at the end of the meal to help with digestion.
Other Uses for Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds can be used in a variety of other dishes. They are often used in breads, cakes, and cookies. They can also be used to flavor fish, poultry, and vegetables.
Dishes You Can Use Fennel Seeds In
Pasta - Fennel seeds can be used to flavor pasta dishes. They can be added to the sauce or used to top the finished dish.
Salad - Fennel seeds can be used to add flavor to salads. They can be used in the salad dressing (here’s a delicious Tangerine & Fennel Vinaigrette) or sprinkled over the salad before serving.
Fish - Fennel seeds can be used to flavor fish. They can be used to rub the fish before cooking, used in a marinade like this Cod dish, or, once again, used sparingly on top of the fish at the end of cooking.
Cookies - I would have never thought about fennel seeds in cookies, but these Pistachio Fennel Cookies will be once I make them as soon as I finish this article!
Back to the sauce! Give this sauce and its fennel seeds a try. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Simple and delicious