Sage Sausage Bites with Strawberry-Apricot Balsamic Dipping Sauce

INGREDIENTS

  • ½ red onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Single Varietal EVOO , plus additional for brushing the bake pan
  • ¼ cup Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar
  • ¾ cup apricot preserves
  • 1/3 cup spicy brown mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 pound sage flavored sausage
  • ½ cup Italian bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Heat 1 tablespoon of EVOO in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.  Sauté chopped red onions for about 1-2 minutes until onions start to soften.  Add the ¼ cup of balsamic and reduce by half, about 90 seconds.  Remove balsamic-onion mixture from heat and combine with the 1/3 cup spicy brown mustard and ¾ cup apricot preserves.  Add ¼ teaspoon of salt and stir until well combined.  Place the 1 pound of sausage into a medium-sized mixing bowl.  Add 2 tablespoons of the dipping sauce directly into the sausage and mix well.  Form sausage into bite-sized balls and fully coat in the Italian bread crumbs.  Place the sausage bites onto a bake pan lightly brushed with the EVOO.  Bake for about 15-18 minutes until evenly brown.  Turn sausage bites often while baking to achieve a uniform browning.  Drain sausage bites on a paper towel and serve with toothpicks and dipping sauce.

 

SERVES 8 (ABOUT 20-24 PIECES)