I grew up eating chorizo in Mexico, and I love it. It comes in deep-burnt-reddish links of fresh, moist, exotically seasoned ground meat, that once, fried, becomes crisp and filling bites with bold flavors and a thousand uses.
When I moved to the United States, more than a dozen years ago, I was thrilled to find chorizo in international grocery stores. Lately, I have been intrigued and surprised to see that my Mexican chorizo is now accompanied by many other kinds in the refrigerated sections of bigger, more mainstream stores.
Latin chorizos differ greatly from Spanish ones. Spanish chorizos typically are dried and smoked cured links of chopped meat, seasoned mainly with garlic and paprika; they tend to be ready to eat and have a salami-like soft and chewy bite. Latin ones however, are raw and need to be cooked before eating.
Mexican is the spiciest of all the Latin chorizos, and I won’t deny that it’s my favorite. Mexican chorizos can have variations as well, but they generally contain dried chile peppers like ancho, pasilla, guajillo and/or chipotles; a mix of spices that might include oregano, cumin, thyme, marhoram, bay leaves, cinnamon, coriander seeds, allspice, paprika, achiote and cloves; most times garlic and sometimes onion, and always vinegar, which makes the meat flake or crumble as it brown and give it a welcome hint of acidity.
Toluca, a city in Mexico known as The Chorizo Capital, also has a delicious Green Chorizo. That has green fresh chiles and herbs in the mix.
For different ways to try use chorizo, check out the ideas and recipes, like the Mexican style pasta below, on my chorizo episode. And if you feel like making your own Mexican chorizo, you may want to give Mrs.Wheelbarrow’s recipe a try.
Comments
21comments inChorizo
deborah
Feb 20
Hello
I really want to make my own chorizo. Do you have a recipe you would like to share? The one you have here on the website comes up as unsafe, and then does not open.
thank you
Deborah
Pati Jinich
Feb 29
At the moment I do not have a personal recipe for chorizo, but I will definitely test one soon!
Ed H
Jun 26
please show me a really goo chorizo recipe. I cannot find good chorizo in floridae. My son just got a meat grinder and we will make some taste chorizo, hopefully.
Pati Jinich
Jul 03
Hi Ed, I have a chorizo recipe suggestion in this blog entry, good luck! https://patijinich.com/chorizo/
Rachel
Jun 05
Hola a store by me has the dry Mexican chorizo and I would love to make a new dish do you have any recommendations?
Pati Jinich
Jun 13
OMG Rachel, you just picked my favorite ingredient! If you follow this link, you will find many recipes with chorizo here on the website, including Spicy Clam Chorizo Pasta, Chef Rod’s Chorizo Burger, Potato, Scallion and Chorizo Crispy Tacos and many more, enjoy 😉 http://patijinich.com/?s=chorizo
Kelly Fields
May 17
What brand of chorizo do you use?
Pati Jinich
May 20
Hey Kelly, have you tried FUD? It is pretty good!
Aida
Mar 21
Can’t find chicken ala trash on your website. I am sure my teenage grandson would love it. It seems easy, since I am getting old I appreciate one pot dishes. Ha ha. Love your show. Thank you!!
Pati
Mar 21
Hola Aida, So nice to see your message! I hope you make the chicken a la trash for your grandson. Here is the recipe: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/recipe/chicken-a-la-trash/
Susan Ballard
Jan 02
How about a recipe for making chorizo.
Pati
Jan 04
I have a few! http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2011/05/mexican_style_pasta_with_tomato_sauce_chorizo_fresh_cream/ http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2011/05/warm_sweet_potato_salad_with_chorizo/ http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2015/04/chef-rods-chorizo-burger/ =)
Carolyn Decasse
Jul 05
Yes I am so happy. Mrs. Wheelbarrows is a great book and I am glad you have read it.!
Tom
Dec 17
Hi Pati I love your show and I love the food of your country! I live in New England and the only way I can get Mexican chorizo is by having a friend in California freeze it and send it to me. The only chorizo that I can find in the stores including international supermarkets is Portuguese chorizo. I have tried making my own but it’s just not the same, any tips?
Pati
Dec 18
Hola Tom, You’re so lucky to have a friend in California who will send you chorizo! I bet it’s excellent! For making your own, I like Mrs. Wheelbarrow’s recipe at the very end of this post: http://www.mrswheelbarrow.com/2011/04/charcutepalooza-may-challenge-grinding/
John Litz
Nov 19
Does the chorizo place you visited ship their chorizo product. Please tell me how I can order some. Thanks John
Pati Jinich
Nov 22
Hola John, I use Logans Mexican style chorizo, which I find at my local latin grocery store. Here is a link to their website and you can contact them directly about shipping etc. http://www.logansausage.com/products/chorizo/. 🙂
ELLINDA MARTIN
Aug 30
please send me a queso findido recipewith pork chorizo
Pati Jinich
Sep 14
Hola Ellinda, thank you for the request! I will be sure to post one soon.
Bryan Duvall
Aug 04
Dear Pati,
I am a avid watcher of your cooking show.Do you have recipe for chorizo.I wish you would do a show on how to make homemade chorizo.I love cooking and my wife is from Monterrey
Mexico.We Have tried to make ,but to no avale it doesnt turn out good . Love your show!
Sincerily,
Bryan Duvall
Pati Jinich
Aug 05
Hola Bryan, Thank you for commenting! I do have some recipes and will try to post as soon as possible.