What Ingredients Are in Sweet Italian Sausage? A Deep Dive
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                According to culinary tradition, the defining characteristic of sweet Italian sausage is the use of fennel seed, which provides its signature aromatic, slightly licorice-like flavor. This core ingredient, combined with a specific blend of other spices and herbs, is what distinguishes it from its hotter and milder counterparts and defines the classic sweet Italian sausage profile.