Mexican Chorizo

A carne asada is not complete without a couple of chorizo links to throw on the grill and char up. Mexican chorizo is uncured and raw, and usually made out of ground pork, but there are beef and chicken versions available. Highly seasoned with dried chiles and spices, the flavor is also bright, thanks to ample use of vinegar in the ground meat. You’ll find chorizo available for sale by the pound in Mexican markets or packaged in the refrigerated section, usually next to deli meats. Look for chorizo that is enclosed in a pork casing, since the chorizo that is sold without a casing can be cooked in a pan but not on a grill. Note: Soy-based vegetarian chorizo is sold in a plastic casing, which cannot be grilled. This plant-based alternative needs to be sauteed in a nonstick pan with a little bit of oil, but can crisp up into a very meat-like texture. You can also substitute Salvadoran-style chorizo or longaniza, which are other delicious forms of cased chorizo that use a different blend of dried chiles and spices.