If you’re a sausage lover who hasn’t tried chorizo (we’re not sure how that’s possible, but we’re not judging you!), you’ll be running out to find some after reading this. It’s a salty type of sausage found in Mexican and Spanish cuisine, and it’s oozing with the type of flavors that have you coming back for bite after bite. There are slight—but equally delicious—differences between the various types, so we tapped Aarón Sánchez, award-winning chef, TV personality and Cacique spokesperson, to break down the tastiness.
Mexican vs Spanish chorizo
Both are must-tries, but they’re importantly different. “Mexican style chorizo is actually raw meat that’s been heavily seasoned with dry chilies and aromatic spices like cinnamon and clove. Spanish chorizo is a hard sausage that’s been cured like a salami,” explains Sánchez.
Mexican chorizo can be made from pork, beef, or even soy, and it’s so saturated with the flavors of those herbs and spices that it requires barely any manipulation to make it taste great. “You will sometimes find special names like Longaniza, which describes a particular style of Mexican chorizo,” Sánchez adds. “They’re very regional.”
Chowhound’s Chorizo Breakfast Burritos
What’s the best way to prepare it?
If you have a favorite Mexican dish, it can be made with chorizo—tortas (Mexican mayo, beans, jalapeno, lettuce, tomato, onions, avocado, and a protein layered between a traditional Mexican roll), tacos, tostadas, burritos, nachos, chilaquiles, and the list goes on. But Sánchez has a favorite way to prepare it that’s going to make your mouth water. “There’s really no wrong way to eat chorizo, but I like to make a taco with Mexican-style pork chorizo, grilled pineapple, some beautiful Mexican cheese, and tons of cilantro,” he says. “If I have Longaniza, it’s all about the eggs with some roasted chiles and onion. It makes for a perfect breakfast taco.”
For Spanish chorizo, add it to a cheese plate or crisp it up in a pan and use it as a crispy, salty, crunchy element in a salad or cheesy dish (chorizo fondue, anyone?!)
Chowhound’s Chorizo and Olive Flatbread
It lends itself to experimentation
One of the most beautiful aspects to chorizo is that it’s perfect for when you’re feeling creative. That means don’t consider it a meat that needs to strictly stay within the bounds of Mexican cuisine. “One of my favorite ways to use chorizo is in a stuffing for Thanksgiving turkey. You can do traditional components of stuffing, such as cooked cornbread, but then amp it up with chorizo,” says Sánchez. “It’s great when you pair it with something that doesn’t have a lot of inherent flavor, like chicken or turkey.”
Related Video: Black Bean and Chorizo Soup
from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2D69J41
via IFTTT
