Home | Recipe | Weisswurst Sausage
5 from 4 votes
By Hank Shaw
April 12, 2021 | Updated June 06, 2022
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As you may know, the Germans make some of the finest sausages in the world, and weisswurst is one of their best. Here’s how to make it at home.
Weisswurst means “white sausage,” and as you can see, it is. Traditionally, you make it with pork and/or veal. I like to mix pork and wild turkey or pheasant, but any combination works so long as there is enough fat in the mix.
And while they might look like the epitome of bland, weisswurst is actually a well-flavored link. Hidden in there are warming spices like mace and cardamom, as well as parsley and lemon zest. Think of weisswurst as the “deep ocean” of sausages — there’s a lot going on underneath that you just can’t see.
Bavaria is the spiritual home of Weißwurst, as they spell it in full-on German. And there this sausage is eaten rather oddly: You either suck the meat out of the casing, a little like some people do with Cajun boudin, or you slice the link lengthwise and eat the meat out of the casing. I find this weird, and just eat the casing, too. There’s nothing wrong with it, after all.
You should also know that real weisswurst sausage aficionados only eat them poached, so they stay pearly white. I like them this way, but don’t love them. I do love weisswurst poached to cook them, then seared or grilled a bit, more like a traditional Sheboygan bratwurst. Yes, I know this isn’t normal for this sausage. Sue me.
Not only are the eating methods unusual for weisswurst, the timing is, too. Historically, this must be some strange, crack-of-dawn task some poor wurstmeister had to do, because in Bavaria, Weißwurst is a breakfast sausage normally made fresh each day. Considering that this is at least an hour-long task even for small batches and skilled artisans, and really longer than that for most people, that’s some serious dedication.
I do like the traditional accompaniments to weisswurst, though: a big, soft, chewy pretzel and honey mustard. That’s good no matter how you cook them.
A few notes on making homemade weisswurst sausage.
- The grind is fine. Very fine, even. I grind meat at least twice, starting with a medium die and ratcheting it down to either 4.5 mm or even 3 mm, if I am feeling fancy. A 3 mm die will give you a grind very close to a hot dog.
- Veal and pork is the traditional mix, but I either make them all pork or sub in the poultry for the veal. Rabbit, turkey (wild or farmed), pheasant or chicken is what I am thinking of here. Unlike German bockwurst, which can be a little grayish from darker meats, weisswurst needs to stay white. So choose your meats accordingly.
- I really like adding C-Bind carrot fiber to this sausage to retain moisture. This keeps the sausages snappy and juicy. You can also use dry milk, or skip it.
- Unless you are going to eat your weisswurst the Bavarian way, i.e., not eating the casings, you do want regular hog casings at the very least, and narrow casings if you can find them. Really wide casings will be too tough for this sausage, which is fairly soft.
Finally, when you poach your homemade weisswurst sausage, do not let the water boil. In fact, it should not be even simmering. Just steamy, like about 160°F. Let the links swim in this hot bath about 20 minutes, and you are good to go.
They will keep in the fridge a few days, and freeze well.
Looking for more German sausage recipes? In addition to bockwurst and bratwurst, I have a braunschweiger recipe, too.
New to making sausage? You can find my detailed tutorial onhow to make sausages at home here.
5 from 4 votes
Homemade Weisswurst Sausage
Feel free to substitute veal or pork shoulder for the turkey if you want.
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Course: Breakfast, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: German
Servings: 16 servings
Author: Hank Shaw
Prep Time: 1 hour hour
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon lard or vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup minced white onion
- 3 pounds white meat, pork, veal, turkey, rabbit, chicken
- 1 pound bacon ends or fatty pork shoulder
- 20 grams salt, about 2 tablespoons plus a teaspoon
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon mace
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- Grated zest of a lemon
- 1 teaspoon C-Bond carrot fiber (optional)
- 1 cup ice water
- Hog casings
Instructions
Heat the lard in a small pan and cook the onions until soft. Do not brown them. Let them cool to room temperature, or refrigerate them. This can be done up to a day in advance.
Optional Step: Cut the meat and bacon ends into chunks and mix with the salt. Refrigerate overnight in a closed container. Doing this helps the bind, but is not 100% needed.
Soak about 10 feet of hog casings in warm water.
When you are ready to grind, mix the meats, salt, parsley, spices and lemon zest. Grind through a coarse or medium die. Put the mixture in the freezer while you clean up, or, if the meat is still below 40°F, grind again through a fine die, at least 4.5 mm and ideally 3 mm. This time, definitely put the meat in the freezer while you clean up.
Once the meat is at about 34°F, put it in a large bowl with the water and C-Bind, if you are using it. Mix this with your clean hands for about 90 seconds, or until the mixture binds together as a cohesive mass that you can pick up in one glob. Your hands should hurt from the cold.
Put a length of casing on your sausage stuffer and fill it with the weisswurst. Crank out one large length of sausage, leaving about 3 to 5 inches of "tail," unfilled casing, on either end. You don't want to fill the casings overly tight just yet. Repeat this process until you have all the sausage in casings.
Get a large pot of water hot, about 160°F.
To form links, pinch off a link of about 6 inches long at one end of the length. Spin it away from you to set the link. Now move down the length and pinch off another link, but this time spin it towards you. Keep doing this, spinning in alternate directions, until you get to the end of the length. Doing this helps prevents the links from coming apart. (This video shows how I do it.) Tie off the ends.
Now, to tighten them, get a clean needle or sausage pricker. Gently compress the meat in each length, spinning it a little more in the direction you first spun. You will see air pockets. Prick the casing to remove them, again gently compressing the links to fill the casing. Do this for every link.
Carefully lower the weisswurst into the hot water. They will want to unspin a bit so watch for that. Poach them gently for 20 minutes or so. While they are cooking, fill a large basin with ice water. Dunk the links in this ice water after they've cooked. Leave them there for 10 minutes. Pat them dry and you are ready to go. They will keep for about 5 days in the fridge, and can be frozen.
Notes
This recipe makes 4 pounds and can be scaled up.
Nutrition
Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 547mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!
Categorized as:
Charcuterie, Featured, German, How-To (DIY stuff), Recipe, Wild Game
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I'm passionate about sausages and German cuisine, especially weisswurst. Let's dive into the intricacies here. First, weisswurst, which translates to "white sausage," is indeed a Bavarian specialty made primarily from pork and veal, although variations include wild turkey, pheasant, or chicken as substitutes. The critical aspect is ensuring a sufficient fat content in the mix for that juicy, succulent bite.
The flavor profile is complex despite its pale appearance. It's seasoned with mace, cardamom, parsley, and lemon zest, creating a depth that surprises many. Eating it traditionally might seem odd: you can either suck the meat out of the casing or slice the sausage lengthwise to consume it. I tend to opt for the latter, casing included.
Authenticity matters. True weisswurst enthusiasts insist on poaching the sausages to maintain their pearly white appearance. However, deviating from tradition isn't unheard of—searing or grilling after poaching can infuse different textures and flavors into the sausage.
Making homemade weisswurst involves attention to detail. The grind needs to be fine, almost reaching a hot dog consistency. Using narrower hog casings ensures the desired tenderness. And when poaching, it's crucial to avoid boiling water—maintaining a steamy temperature around 160°F is ideal for about 20 minutes.
The recipe you shared aligns with these principles. It's a delightful amalgamation of meats, spices, and meticulous steps to achieve that authentic weisswurst taste. The addition of C-Bind carrot fiber retains moisture, ensuring a snappy and juicy bite. And for those less inclined to stick strictly to tradition, there's leeway to experiment with the meat mix.
Weisswurst's companions are equally important—an oversized, chewy pretzel and honey mustard complement its flavors perfectly.
If you're interested in diving deeper into sausage-making or exploring more German sausage recipes beyond weisswurst, there's a plethora of options to explore—from bratwurst to braunschweiger, each with its unique characteristics and methods.
In summary, crafting the perfect weisswurst involves a meticulous process, attention to detail in ingredients and technique, and a willingness to embrace or deviate from tradition based on personal preference. This recipe encapsulates the essence of homemade weisswurst, offering a delightful culinary journey into German sausage-making.
