I grew up on Hofmann hot dogs and have been eating them my entire life. In moderation. I like the German franks and beef franks with natural casing. Grill 'em up outdoors or on the stovetop and add a thin stripe of German-style mustard -- I don't even need a bun. It's a true taste of Syracuse.
The Hofmann Sausage Company has been around for more than a century and continues to evolve and reach new customers by introducing new products, like beef jerky, hunter sticks and condiments. The company recently introduced a line of chicken sausages and asked Central New York-based food bloggers to give them a try. Before long, a big box of well-iced sausages and condiments showed up on our doorstep.
With less fat and calories, chicken sausage is a healthy alternative to traditional sausage. All of Hofmann's new chicken sausages are fully cooked, gluten free and made without fillers. The flavors are interesting and won't overwhelm your taste buds. You can see bits of ingredients like apple, basil and roasted red pepper in the sausages.
Our package included:
• Harvest Apple Chicken Sausage: Just a hint of sweet.
• Tomato and Basil Chicken Sausage: Nice and savory.
• Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage: Garlic flavor is mild/mellow, not in your face.
• Roasted Red Pepper and Asiago Chicken Sausage: The peppers give this sausage a bit of color and bite.
• Maple Sausage Breakfast Links: Sweet and savory sausages made with pork. Perfect for a winter morning.
To get an idea of the flavors, we pan-fried some of the chicken sausages and served with fried potatoes and a green salad. The apple sausage would make a great "sheet pan" breakfast or supper medley with onions, winter squash and other vegetables. The tomato and basil, roasted garlic and roasted red pepper sausages would make a great addition to "Sunday gravy.''
I pulled out a chili recipe that originally called for turkey sausage or turkey Italian sausage and subbed in three-quarters of a pound of the Hofmann chicken sausages (roasted garlic and tomato and basil), slicing the sausages into rounds and searing them in olive oil. The sweetness from the potatoes and the "umami" from the sausages work well together.
Look for Hofmann's chicken sausages at Tops Friendly Markets; Green Hills Farms, Syracuse; Spera's Meat, Deli and Grocery, Cicero; Nichols Supermarket, Liverpool, and other area grocery stores. Shipping is available nationwide. For more information on Hofmann Sausage Company and its products, CLICK HERE.
Sweet Potato and White Bean Chili with Hofmann Chicken Sausage
(Adapted from a Co+Op Deals sales flyer)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pound Hofmann chicken sausage, sliced into rounds (we used roasted garlic and tomato basil)
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
3 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin seed, toasted and ground
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Additional salt and pepper to taste
Bunch of scallions, white and green parts sliced (optional; for garnish)
Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until nicely browned on both sides. Using a slotted spoon, remove meat to a bowl and cover to keep warm. Add onion and red pepper to pot and cook for about three minutes. Add sweet potato; give everything a good stir and cook for five to six minutes. Add garlic and cook for one minute.
Add tomatoes, broth, spices and salt to pot and give everything a good stir. Return meat to pot and stir to combine. Bring chili to a boil then reduce meat to medium-low and stir in beans. Cover and simmer until chili thickens slightly, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately and garnish with scallions, if using.
Makes 6 to 8 servings, depending on size.
Note: All photos by Margaret McCormick unless otherwise indicated.
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