Chorizo, the thing you must know!
The things you must know about Chorizo
The Chorizo sausage is one of the most famous sausages in the world. The spiciness and the fact that you can find it in tons of different recipes has helped make this tapas so well known.
In this post we discuss the history of chorizo, the different varieties, how to cook and eat it, sustainability, and some surprising tricks.
As Spanish food specialists, you know you can find this spicy sausage in our shop.
Would you like to know more about this famous sausage? Keep reading!
The sausage’s history
Chorizo sausage comes from Spain and Portugal (it is called “chouriço” in portugese). It was created in the peninsula iberica; same as the famous Iberico pork.
It is made with pork or beef meat, and is seasoned with salt and Spanish “pimenton”; which is a paprika variety that gives the sweet taste and the red color.
You can find chorizo in Germany, Hungary, France and obviously in South America.
Legend has it that King Charles IV in the XVII century met a peasant during a hunting game.
The Peasant gave him chorizo and King Charles loved it so much that he made him the official provider of the court, making the chorizo instantly famous.
What kinds of Chorizo can you find?
There are very many different chorizos in Spain and around the world. Every area or location has made its own little tweak, making each variety unique to that specific location.
This sausage, like ham, can be bought raw, cooked or dried cured.
Depending on how you want to eat it or what your favorite chorizo recipe calls for.
How To Eat it ?
Usually, in Spain, dried cured chorizo is eaten in sandwiches or as a tapa. Like other dried sausages, it is a great item to share with friends as an appetizer.
If you buy it raw or cooked, you can also prepare it in many different ways. It is a great sausage to grill, cook a la plancha, or sautee. In the US, it is added to paella, lentil and split pea soups, stews, casseroles like fabada Asturiana, or simply as a topping on pizza.
Chorizo is especially good with eggs, like in huevos a la Riojana, or in a nice simple omelette.
The flavorful taste of the meat and paprika can go very well with any kind of dish.
How to keep it: Preservation of Chorizo
Grilled Chorizo sausage gets dry fast if you keep it outside. The best way to preserve it is in the fridge so the drying process takes longer.
However, if you like it when it is dry, feel free to do so!
Grilled chorizo can be preserved for up to 2 months in the fridge, or up to 2 years if you keep it frozen. But we all know that if you get one, it will never last that long.
Tips and tricks
Always make little cuts on the skin of the sausage before cooking.
Never substitute Spanish chorizo with Mexican ones; they taste and behave differently while cooking. As it was mentioned before, recipes differ depending on the country, so if a recipe tells you to use a Spanish one, it is best to use a Spanish one!
Get Authentic Spanish grilled chorizo from us! Made in Spain; the same area where it was first developed 🙂
We can deliver it to you in less than 3 days. Bon appetit!