Sausage is ground or minced meat, typically pork, beef, or a mix, seasoned with spices and herbs and packed into a casing made from natural animal intestines or a synthetic material. The word comes from the Latin "salsus" (salted), reflecting its origin as a way of preserving meat with salt, a practice found in ancient Greece, Rome, and China.
Styles vary enormously by region, from Spanish chorizo and German bratwurst to Louisiana andouille, North African merguez, and Filipino longaniza, sometimes with fillers like bread crumbs or cheese added. It's used in breakfast dishes, pasta, stews, and casseroles, and commonly paired with sauerkraut, mustard, onions, and cheese.