Eating Well No Matter the Season

During this season of feasting, I am always looking for good ways to make healthier choices that don’t skimp on flavor and leave room for some extra indulgences. My daughter, Genny, has come up with an excellent recipe for Italian sausage using chicken breast and a recipe she found on the Healthy Foodie website. For us Weight Watchers or anyone who just wants to eat a little better, it’s a delicious replacement for the real thing. Genny said she wasn’t sure why she hadn’t made this sooner. It’s just that good. I concur. I had some pasta with meat sauce for lunch made with this Italian sausage. It was very flavorful and satisfying.

Since Genny doesn’t have a meat grinder, she started with boneless, skinless chicken breast and chopped them in the food processor. If breasts are slightly frozen, it helps to keep the chicken from getting too mushy. Using this method gives the meat a texture that resembles bulk Italian sausage when it is cooked.

Chicken Italian Sausage

Ingredients

6 pounds of ground chicken breast, Genny used boneless, skinless breasts chopped in food processor
¼ cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons cold water
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 teaspoons sea salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
4 tablespoons smoked paprika
4 tablespoons fennel seeds, crushed. (Use mortar and pestle, spice blender, or food processor.)
2 tablespoons crushed chili peppers

Directions

Combine all ingredients. Use food processor or stand mixer. Be careful to not expose your hands to the mixture if sensitive to chili peppers.

Now the rest is up to you. Cook as you would any sausage and add to your favorite Italian sausage dish. What will you cook? You may need a spray or two of olive oil. Be sure to freeze what is left for a later date. Enjoy!

There is nothing better than going home to family, eating good food and relaxing. ~Irina Shayk

Note for Weight Watchers: The new Freestyle plan makes this a 0 SmartPoint food. Yay! So many ways to use this when whipping up some yumminess in your kitchen. Keep the party going!