Chef John's Breakfast Sausage Patties

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon pepper black freshly ground
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds crushed to taste
• 1 pound coarsely ground pork shoulder 
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1 pinch nutmeg freshly grated
• 2 teaspoons orange zest freshly grated
• 0.1 teaspoon pepper flakes red
• 0.5 teaspoon herb seasoning dried italian

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• plastic wrap
• cutting board

Directions

1. Place pork, fennel seeds, orange zest, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg into a bowl and stir very lightly with a fork to combine. Do not overmix. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. Check seasonings before using: Shape about 2 teaspoons sausage into a small patty and fry until brown in a skillet over medium heat.
3. Let cool 1 to 2 minutes and taste for seasoning.
4. Cover a cutting board with plastic wrap. Divide sausage into 6 equal pieces, roll into a balls, and wrap each ball with plastic wrap. Press flat into patties and discard plastic.
5. Place a heavy skillet, such as a cast iron skillet, over medium-high heat. Cook patties in hot skillet until meat is no longer pink in the center and the sausage is browned, about 3 minutes per side.
6. Serve immediately.