Maple Bacon Breakfast Sausage

• Boneless pork shoulder (or a combination of cuts, about 75% lean, 25% fat), cut into 1-in/2.5-cm cubes: U.S. Measurement: 2.10 lb; Grams: 981; % of Total (100%): 72.00

• Diced bacon: 0.50 lb; 245; 18.00

• Finely chopped fresh parsley: 2 1/4 tsp; 3; 0.22

• Ice water: 1/4 cup; 42; 2.00

• Maple syrup: 1/3 cup; 84; 6.15

• Fine sea salt: 1 1/2 tsp; 11; 0.80

• Coarsely ground black pepper: 1/2 tsp; 1; 0.07

• Red pepper flakes: 1 tsp; 2; 0.15

• Finely chopped fresh sage: 2 1/4 tsp; 3; 0.22

• Finely chopped fresh thyme leaves: 2 1/4 tsp; 3; 0.22

• Finely grated ginger: 1/2 tsp; 1; 0.07

• Ground fenugreek: 1/2 tsp; 1; 0.04

• Ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp; 1; 0.06

• Sheep casings (optional)

This is your quintessential morning sausage, perfect alongside pancakes or stacked with a fried egg on a flaky biscuit. It just tastes like breakfast: the addition of smoky bacon, real maple syrup, and the classic breakfast sausage flavoring duo, sage and black pepper, all conspire to create the best breakfast sausage ever. Next to our hot dogs, this is probably the most popular sausage we make. It also makes for some killer white sausage gravy, if you're so inclined.

1. Place the pork and bacon on a rimmed baking sheet, transfer to the freezer, and chill until crunchy on the exterior but not frozen solid.

2. In a small bowl, add the parsley, ice water, maple syrup, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, sage, thyme, ginger, fenugreek, and nutmeg and stir to combine.

3. Nest a large mixing bowl in a bowl filled with ice. Grind the pork and bacon through the small die of the grinder into the bowl set in ice.

4. Add the spice mixture to the meat and stir with your hands until well incorporated; the mixture will look homogenous and will begin sticking to the bowl. 

5. Spoon 2 tbsp of the meat mixture into a nonstick frying pan and spread into a thin patty. Cook the test patty over low heat until cooked through but not browned. Taste the sausage for seasoning and adjust as necessary.

6. Press a sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap directly on the surface of the meat to prevent oxidation, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Alternatively, you can vacuum-seal the farce.

7. This sausage can be left uncased, either loose or formed into patties, or stuffed into sheep casings and twisted into links.

8. Breakfast sausages (both patties and links) are best cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F/63°C, either in a sauté pan or on a griddle over medium heat until browned.

[Related: Ryan Farr's interview about making homemade sausage]