Italian sausage spice mix
Italian sausage spice mix is a pre-blended seasoning used to flavor ground pork or other meats for making Italian-style sausages. It typically includes fennel seeds, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, with regional variations adding red pepper flakes, sage, or anise. This mix originates from Italy and is a cornerstone of Italian-American and Italian culinary traditions.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
As a spice blend, it is very low in calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein, providing negligible macronutrients. Its primary nutritional contribution comes from trace minerals and antioxidants found in the individual spices, such as iron from paprika and manganese from fennel.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 15 kcal |
| Protein | 0.5 g |
| Carbs | 2 g |
| Fat | 0.5 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
| Iron | 0.5 mg |
| Manganese | 0.2 mg |
| Calcium | 20 mg |
| Potassium | 50 mg |
| Vitamin A | 100 IU |
| Vitamin C | 1 mg |
| Magnesium | 5 mg |
| Phosphorus | 10 mg |
Per 1 tablespoon (6 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The signature flavor of Italian sausage comes from fennel seeds, which have a distinct anise-like flavor that is culturally iconic in Italian cuisine. Nutritionally, the spices in the blend, like paprika and garlic, are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
