chorizo

Chorizo

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

  1. 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

    1. Pati Jinich

      Feb 29

      At the moment I do not have a personal recipe for chorizo, but I will definitely test one soon!

  2. 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.

    1. Pati Jinich

      Jul 03

      Hi Ed, I have a chorizo recipe suggestion in this blog entry, good luck! https://patijinich.com/chorizo/

  3. 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?

    1. 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

  4. Kelly Fields

    May 17

    What brand of chorizo do you use?

    1. Pati Jinich

      May 20

      Hey Kelly, have you tried FUD? It is pretty good!

  5. 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!!

    1. 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/

  6. Susan Ballard

    Jan 02

    How about a recipe for making chorizo.

  7. Carolyn Decasse

    Jul 05

    Yes I am so happy. Mrs. Wheelbarrows is a great book and I am glad you have read it.!

  8. 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?

    1. 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/

  9. John Litz

    Nov 19

    Does the chorizo place you visited ship their chorizo product. Please tell me how I can order some. Thanks John

    1. 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/. 🙂

  10. ELLINDA MARTIN

    Aug 30

    please send me a queso findido recipewith pork chorizo

    1. Pati Jinich

      Sep 14

      Hola Ellinda, thank you for the request! I will be sure to post one soon.

  11. 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

    1. Pati Jinich

      Aug 05

      Hola Bryan, Thank you for commenting! I do have some recipes and will try to post as soon as possible.

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