Chorizo

Chorizo, Spain’s ubiquitous sausage, is usually made of chopped pork, sweet or hot paprika, crushed red peppers, and garlic. It is available in two forms: a soft variety for cooking and a cured, hard variety that is sliced and served as a tapa. Spanish chorizo differs significantly from the plumper, juicier Mexican chorizo, which is made of freshly ground pork and a chili-spice blend, and from Portuguese chouriço, which contains less paprika and more garlic and includes wine. In America, Spanish chorizo is popular in areas with large Hispanic populations. It has caught the attention of top chefs and often is used as a bold flavor counterpoint, especially in fusion cuisine.