Pork and Apple Breakfast Sausage Patties Recipe

What Is Pork and Apple Breakfast Sausage?

Breakfast sausage is ground pork seasoned with sage and a touch of sweetness, shaped into patties and browned in a pan. This homemade version uses grated apple for moisture and fresh herbs for flavor, and it makes 8 patties in about 22 minutes. Pork, apple and fresh herbs are whole foods with a low inflammatory load, which makes this a steady way to start the day.

What Makes This Recipe Anti-Inflammatory?

Pork supplies high quality protein along with thiamin, selenium and zinc, nutrients that support normal immune function. Apple brings quercetin and a soluble fiber called pectin, which feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Sage contains rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, and thyme adds thymol, two plant compounds studied for their antioxidant activity.

Ginger carries gingerols, and garlic contributes allicin, an organosulfur compound formed when the clove is minced.

Every ingredient is compliant with the AIP elimination phase. There are no grains, legumes, nightshades, dairy, eggs, nuts, seeds or seed-based spices, and the seasoning comes from fresh herbs, ginger and apple instead of the paprika, added sugar or unspecified spice blends that fill most store-bought sausage.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 small apple, peeled, finely grated and squeezed of excess juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil, for the pan

Directions

Step 1

Wrap the grated apple in a clean kitchen towel or press it in a fine strainer and squeeze hard. Leftover juice loosens the mixture, and the patties crumble in the pan.

Step 2

In a large bowl, combine the pork, apple, sage, thyme, garlic, ginger, maple syrup and sea salt.

Step 3

Mix with your hands just until the seasoning is evenly distributed, about 30 seconds. Working the meat longer packs the proteins tightly together, and the cooked patties turn dense and rubbery.

Step 4

Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and shape each into a patty about 1/2 inch thick. Press a shallow dimple into the center of each with your thumb. Patties contract as they cook, and the center puffs up unless it starts a little thinner.

Step 5

Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Lay the patties in the pan without crowding them and leave them alone. A crust needs undisturbed contact with the pan, and the patties release on their own once it forms, after 5 to 6 minutes.

Step 6

Flip and cook another 5 to 6 minutes. Check the center with an instant read thermometer: pork is done at 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

InflammaScore

1 Good! Very low inflammation potential

Q&A

Q1: Is this recipe suitable for the AIP elimination phase?
A1: Yes. Ground pork, apple, fresh sage, fresh thyme, garlic, ground ginger, maple syrup, sea salt and avocado oil are all permitted during elimination. There is no black pepper in the ingredient list, since peppercorns fall outside the herbs that come from leaves and roots, and no seed-based spices such as cumin, coriander or mustard.

Q2: Why do my patties fall apart or turn out dry?
A2: Crumbling usually means the apple was not squeezed enough, or the patties were flipped before the crust formed. Dryness comes from overmixing or overcooking, so mix briefly and pull the patties at 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).

Q3: Can I use ground turkey instead of pork?
A3: Yes. Turkey is leaner, so add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil to the mixture to keep the patties moist. Cook turkey patties to 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) in the center.

Q4: Can I prep these ahead or freeze them?
A4: Yes. Shape the raw patties and refrigerate them on a plate the day before, or freeze them in a single layer with parchment paper between each one. Once solid, stack them in a bag. Cook from frozen over medium-low heat, adding a few minutes per side.

Q5: What goes well with them?
A5: Sauteed spinach or kale, roasted sweet potato cubes and sliced fresh fruit all work. Two patties with a serving of vegetables make a filling breakfast.