Chorizo: What Do I Do With It?

Chorizo is a Spanish style sausage that has a bit of spice. You can use it in many different ways, and adding it to a meal now and then might be a nice surprise for your friends and family. The sausage is a snap to prepare ,and pairs well with many other foods, making it a great choice next time you’re perusing the meat counter at the grocery store. Don’t be afraid to take some home and experiment with it. Your taste buds will thank you.

What is it?

It is a pork sausage that is seasoned with red pepper, paprika and chili powder. Some types of the sausage are made with fresh pork, while others are made with smoked pork. Chorizo is sold in links or in bulk. Both options are popular, what you choose depends on the recipe you’re using and your personal preferences. Most types of the sausage must be cooked before consuming, though some versions are sold like summer sausage for slicing and eating.

How Do I Cook it?

Cook chorizo much like you would any other type of sausage. Remove the outer casing of the sausage, put it in a hot skillet and fry it until cooked through and no longer pink on the inside. Once it’s cooked, you can use Spanish sausage in a variety of ways. It works well at all meals and one taste might find you eating it frequently.

How Do I Use it?

A classic way to use chorizo is to mix it with eggs. Cook about a quarter pound of the sausage in a skillet. While it cooks, scramble five or six eggs with salt and pepper. When the sausage is cooked, pour the eggs over it and cook until they are scrambled and combined well. Serve with tortillas and avocado slices. You can also put the mixture inside a tortilla, with cooked hash browns and shredded cheese, to make a breakfast burrito.

Chorizo also pairs well with pasta. Try using it in place of Italian sausage in your favorite pasta sauce. Or mix with the noodles and add black beans, corn, tomatoes and cheese for a Mexican inspired meal.

Sprinkle the cooked sausage into vegetable soup or stew, and serve with buttered rolls or tortillas. Try it in rice dishes too.

Roll chorizo with cheese in corn tortillas, top with green chili, and bake for a new twist on enchiladas. Or, mix it with re-fried beans and make burritos for dinner. It also works well in tacos and tostadas.

Add this tasty Spanish sausage to macaroni and cheese, mix it half and half with ground beef for a spicy hamburger, or add it to a pot of baked beans for a new flavor at your next classic American meal.