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Janet's Spanish Sausage
Some recipes are special not because they are fancy or complicated, but because they have been shared by family and enjoyed for many years. Janet’s Spanish Sausage is one of those recipes. This simple, flavorful dish came from my sister-in-law many years ago, and it has remained a wonderful reminder of how good home cooking can be.
Made with ground sausage, celery, onion, bell pepper, tomato juice, and just a touch of sugar, this recipe brings together simple ingredients to create a delicious, comforting meal. The mixture is thickened with flour, giving it a hearty consistency that is perfect for serving over rice or alongside your favorite side dishes.
One of the best things about Janet’s Spanish Sausage is how quick and easy it is to prepare. You don’t need a long list of ingredients or hours in the kitchen to put a satisfying meal on the table. The sausage and vegetables cook together to create a savory, flavorful dish with a hint of sweetness from the sugar and a rich tomato base.
I love recipes like this because they remind me of the dishes shared around family tables through the years. They are practical, dependable, and full of the kind of old-fashioned goodness that makes you want to keep the recipe close at hand.
If you are looking for an easy weeknight meal that is full of flavor and made with everyday ingredients, give Janet’s Spanish Sausage a try. It is a lovely little family recipe with a story behind it, and those are often the recipes we treasure most!
This recipe comes from my old daisy recipe box, where I’ve kept many treasured recipes for decades. Beginning in the 1970s and continuing to the present day, that little box has held so many special recipes, family favorites, and memories from years gone by. Each recipe card holds a little piece of my past, and I love revisiting these treasured recipes and sharing these with you.
Directions:
- Shape and brown the sausage. Form the ground sausage into patties. Place the patties in a skillet and fry over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Remove the sausage from the skillet and drain off the excess grease.
Sauté the vegetables. Add the chopped bell pepper, celery, and onion to the skillet. Sauté until the vegetables are tender, stirring occasionall
3. Prepare the sauce. Pour in the tomato juice. Add the sugar, water, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
4. Simmer the sausage. Return the sausage patties to the skillet, nestling them into the tomato and vegetable mixture. Cover and simmer gently for about 1 hour, allowing the flavors to blend. Stir occasionally and check that the sauce isn’t cooking down too much.
5. Thicken the sauce. Carefully remove the sausage patties and set them aside. Stir the flour into a little cold water until smooth, then gradually stir the mixture into the simmering sauce. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens. Add a little more water if needed to reach your desired consistency. Add the sausage back to the mixture.
6. Serve. Spoon the tomato and vegetable sauce over hot cooked rice. Arrange the sausage patties on top and spoon a little extra sauce over them. Serve warm and enjoy!
Janet’s Spanish Sausage
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
A quick, easy, and flavorful family favorite passed down from my sister-in-law many years ago. Made with ground sausage, celery, onion, bell pepper, a touch of sugar, and tomato juice, then thickened with flour, this comforting dish is simple to prepare and full of delicious, old-fashioned flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground sausage
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1 can tomato juice (12-15 oz.) (Add more as needed.)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tbs. flour
- Serve over rice
Instructions
- Form the ground sausage into patties.
- Place the patties in a skillet and fry over medium heat until browned and cooked through.
- Remove the sausage from the skillet and drain off the excess grease.
- Add the chopped bell pepper, celery, and onion to the skillet. Sauté until the vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in the tomato juice. Add the sugar, water, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
- Return the sausage patties to the skillet, nestling them into the tomato and vegetable mixture. Cover and simmer gently for about 1 hour, allowing the flavors to blend. Stir occasionally and check that the sauce isn’t cooking down too much.
- Carefully remove the sausage patties and set them aside.
- Stir the flour into a little cold water until smooth, then gradually stir the mixture into the simmering sauce. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens. Add a little more water if needed to reach your desired consistency. Add the sausage back to the mixture.
- Spoon the tomato and vegetable sauce over hot cooked rice. Arrange the sausage patties on top and spoon a little extra sauce over them. Serve warm and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
Add more tomato juice as needed, to keep it from getting too thick.
If you prefer more sausage in proportion to the sauce, simply cook an additional pound of sausage. (made into patties)
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Mixing the flour with cold water before adding it to the hot sauce helps prevent lumps.
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For food safety, make sure the sausage patties reach an internal temperature of 160°F if using pork or beef sausage.
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- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Spanish