Have you ever wondered, what is chorizo? How exactly is it made? Calm down a bit! Mostly Mexican people prefer including chorizo in their dishes. In my today’s post, I will discuss everything about what is chorizo in brief. Here, you will get to know the different types of chorizo available in the market. You will also learn how to make and cook the chorizo. Make sure you check out the list of recipes you can make using chorizo. Without wasting much time, let’s find what is chorizo to enhance your favorite meal a bit more.
What Is Chorizo?
Chorizo is a type of highly-seasoned pork sausage. This sausage is very popular in Mexican and Spanish cooking. The word chorizo is derived from the Latin word for salted via the Portuguese word sourico. It means a hard, sliceable sausage similar to salami. It is a common misconception that chorizo is made from the intestines. They are usually sealed in a casing made from animal intestines.
You can keep on reading to find out more about what is chorizo sausage.
Different Types Of Chorizo
In the above section, I have explained what’s chorizo. Let us have a look at the different types of chorizo found in the market.
- Chorizo Cantimpalo: It is Spanish chorizo that originated in the Salamanca and Cantimpalo regions of Spain. You can easily slice and serve this type of chorizo with bread and Manchego cheese.
- Mexican Chorizo: Mexican chorizo is a fresh type of chorizo that needs to be cooked without casing and crumbling.
- Mexican Green Chorizo: Another type of fresh chorizo is Mexican green chorizo. Mexican green chorizo has a vibrant green color.
- Colombian Chorizo: Colombian chorizo is widely found in South America. This type of chorizo is fried whole and then eaten with a knife.
- Argentine Chorizo: Argentine chorizos are influenced by Italian flavors and techniques. They even form part of a popular sandwich called a choripan.
You can keep on reading to check out what is chorizo made out of.
Chorizo: Other Facts To Be Considered
I hope you have now understood what’s chorizo. Let us now have a look at the other important facts about chorizo you must know.
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Origin
The chorizo was first introduced in the Iberian Peninsula. It mainly consists of Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. This sausage was very famous in the early years of the 1500s. As of now, chorizo is widely enjoyed in Mexico, Central America, South America, The Caribbean, and Asia.
Let us now check out what is chorizo made from.
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Production
The ingredients used for making chorizo depend on what type it is. For example, Spanish chorizo is made up of chopped pork and pork fat. While Mexican chorizo is made from fatty pork, beef, poultry, or venison. In fact, vegan and kosher versions of chorizo also exist. It can be made by using all types of ingredients including cilantro, cloves, garlic, cumin, and more.
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Purchase
You can easily purchase both Spanish and Mexican chorizo from your local grocery stores. The Mexican chorizo will be available in the raw refrigerated meat section. While Spanish chorizo will be located in the deli or charcuterie section. You can even check nearby butcher shops and ethnic markets if you can’t find them at your local market.
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Storage
Once you know where to purchase chorizo from, you have to store them immediately. Chorizo stays fresh for at least two weeks when stored in the refrigerator. You can also slice it and then store it in the refrigerator. This will be good for another week.
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Cooking
You can easily cook chorizo in a 400F oven for about 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure you cook until the center is no longer pink. You can even break it up into smaller bits using a spatula by turning it regularly. For raw and semi-cured chorizo varieties, remove the casting and then fry it in a dry pan.
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Taste
Is chorizo spicy? Yes, Mexican chorizo is typically spicy as it is seasoned with vinegar and chile peppers. While Spanish chorizo is made with garlic and smoked sweet or hot paprika. This gives chorizo its deep brick-red color and smoky flavor.
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Heath Benefits
Many people wonder is chorizo healthy? Even though chorizo is delicious to eat but it is not a healthy food to eat. They are high in calories, fat, and sodium. As it is low-carb, it fits into a ketogenic diet.
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Uses
In this section, I will tell you what is chorizo used for. Chorizo is a great partial replacement for grounded beef or pork. It can be eaten sliced in a sandwich, grilled, fried, or simmered in liquid. You can even include apple cider or aguardiente in chorizo.
Recipes Made By Using Chorizo
You can make the following delicious recipes with chorizo at home.
- Cheesy Chorizo Lasagne
- Chorizo and Sweet Potato Salad
- Chorizo And Herb Salad
- Chorizo and Eggs
You can learn much more on various topics on prozgo.com
FAQ
What Is Plant-based Chorizo?
Plant-based chorizo is chorizo made by using common kitchen ingredients. This includes chipotle peppers, ripe tomato paste, crushed garlic, Spanish smoked paprika, and extra-virgin olive oil.
What Kind Of Chorizo Is Best?
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
- #TOP 1. El Mexicano Pork Chorizo Sausage 9 Oz. CLICK FOR PRICE Read Review. El Mexicano Pork Chorizo Sausage 9 Oz. …
- #TOP 2. Cacique Soy Chorizo Sausage 9 Oz. CLICK FOR PRICE Read Review. Cacique Soy Chorizo Sausage 9 Oz. …
- #TOP 3. Aurelia’s Spanish Chorizo – All-Natural. CLICK FOR PRICE Read Review.
Which Chorizo Is Best For Cooking?
Unlike chouriçco and Spanish chorizo, Mexican chorizo always needs to be cooked before eating. Classic Mexican chorizo is made from pork (and occasionally beef) seasoned with chilis and vinegar rather than paprika and wine. Though it is sometimes briefly fermented, à la Spanish chorizo semicurado, it’s never cured.
What Kind Of Chorizo Is Used In Paella?
Types of Chorizo
Mexican chorizo is the raw version and best used crumbled in recipes. Although par-cooked, I like to brown the chorizo to impart it’s flavor into the dish and caramelize the outsides. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
What Does A Chorizo Taste Like?
Chorizo’s flavor is milder than pepperoni, with hints of smokiness and cumin, which comes from its other ingredients (paprika, oregano). It also has garlic in it to serve as an antioxidant against spoilage during curing. What is this? Chorizo can be made out of any animal meat including lamb or even poultry.
What Is The Difference Between Chorizo And Regular Sausage?
Chorizo is Spanish or Mexican pork that is fully cooked and cured and comes in a variety of options. It is spicy and often served with breakfast or as part of a larger meal. Sausage is a meat that is raw and spiced with fennel or anise, resulting in a less spicy flavor. Sausage is normally pork or turkey.
What Is The Difference Between Spanish And Argentine Chorizo?
While Argentinian chorizo is seasoned with wine, paprika, and garlic, Mexican chorizo is seasoned with vinegar and chile peppers, making it quite spicy. The spice in Mexican chorizo means that it is usually enjoyed as ground meat in eggs or other dishes, while Argentinian chorizo is typically eaten in sausage form.
Conclusion
In my above post, I have discussed what chorizo means in brief. Chorizo is a spicy sausage that is highly used in Spanish and Mexican cuisine. It can be seasoned with vinegar, chile peppers, garlic, and smoked paprika. They are available in two forms: fully cooked and dry, and fully cooked and soft. By adding a slice of chorizo you can improve your experience in any meal. Make sure you keep chorizo in the refrigerator as soon as possible after purchasing it. It stays fresh for at least 2 to 3 weeks. You can now easily include chorizo in recipes after knowing what is chorizo.
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Are there different types of chorizo?
Is Mexican chorizo kosher?