Updated on June 28th, 2022
Cudighi sausage is very popular where I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This sausage can be found at most pizza or pasty shops or restaurants in the area. Cudighi is a spicy Italian sausage that is commonly made for use in sandwiches or on pizza. This sausage gets a lot of its flavor from seasoning such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. For the best results, if you have a meat grinder you will want to grind the pork butt yourself but you could also have it done at the meat department or just buy already ground pork. This recipe will make a large quantity of Cudighi. Once you have prepared the sausage you can make it into links, patties or leave it in bulk—it goes great on sandwiches, pizza, and can be used in dishes such as spaghetti. The sandwich pictured above is topped with mozzarella cheese, onions, mushrooms and spaghetti sauce. Homemade cudighi tastes delicious and is a great addition to many dishes. Enjoy.
Cudighi Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 (6lb) pork butt
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ to 1 cup of dry red wine
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 clove
Instructions
- Have the pork but course ground and do not have the fat trimmed (you will want about 25% fat) or put it through a meat grinder twice at home.
- Mix together salt, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
- Place the ground pork into a large bowl and work the spice mixture into the pork with your hands.
- In a small saucepan combine wine, cinnamon stick, garlic, and clove. Bring to a boil and boil the mixture for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let the mixture cool completely.
- Strain the mixture reserving the liquid and work the liquid into the meat. Let the meat season in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- At this point, the meat can be made into links, patties or left in bulk.
Where is the best cudighi sandwich made in the UP?
I have not tried many but I hear Ralph’s Italian Deli has a great one!
we swear by Lawrey’s Pasty Shop in Ishpeming!!!
We swear Lawrey’s Pasty Shop in Ishpeming is the very best!
Tinos in Negaunee has the best cudighi
I AGREE Ralph’s Italian Deli in Ishpeming has the BEST cudighi! You can have them prepare it or take it home fresh or frozen. We always buy 4-6 pounds at a time and bring it home for using in our spaghetti, on pizzas, in stuffed mushroom recipes, etc. DELICIOUS!!!!!
My favorite restaurant cudighi sandwich is at the Ambassador in Houghton, MI – they serve it both ways: tomato sauce and motzerella cheese or mustard and onion.
I recently found some incredible homemade cudighi near Mass City, MI:
https://m.facebook.com/pages/Harvest-Country-Market/731536760264164
It’s my new favorite!
How does this recipe compare to the restaurant version stated previously?
I was raised in the U.P. (Live and n Fla now) Ate lots of Cudighi, but never had a recipe that truly was the right flavor. Until I came across yours! We made a double recipe, did not make any changes. Pattied it all into 5 Oz Patties. It was a special request from my grandson and it was perfect!! Thank you kindly for this flash from my past.
Lynda