What type of chorizo is this?
I have been given a gourmet hamper which includes a chorizo sausage. There are no instructions on the packet to say what it is. I have had cooking chorizo before and know what it looks like. This chorizo is about 8 inches long, has string at both ends and is quite soft. I don't want to give anyone a stomach upset. To cook or not to cook.
Regards Carol.
Best Answer
A couple of the largest clues to help you
If it's Spanish, it's probably OK 'raw', if it's Mexican, probably not.
If it's soft & squashy, it needs cooking, if it's firm & wrinkled it's OK as it is.
Left is cured & ready to eat, right must be cooked first.
I'm ignoring the fact that for this photo someone has cross-contaminated, making the properly smoked one no longer safe
One additional tip I learned from my mother-in law, who lives in Spain - even though completely safe 'raw', if the skin comes off easily in one piece, it's better raw; if it tears off in bits, cook it anyway in red wine. It's not as good.
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Quick Answer about "What type of chorizo is this?"
There are two very different types of chorizo sausage. Though both are dark-red, spicy, garlicky, and made with pork, one is fresh, like Italian sausage, and the other is dry, like salami or pepperoni. Mexican chorizo is made with fresh ground pork and seasoned predominantly with chiles.What is the difference between Spanish chorizo and Mexican chorizo?
Mexican chorizo is generally a fresh sausage and is usually cooked like ground meat or other sausage links. Spanish chorizo, on the other hand, is a dried cured sausage with a completely different texture.Can you substitute Spanish chorizo for Mexican chorizo?
OR - Use linguica but again, it must be cooked before it can be eaten. Similar to the Hawaiian style sausage but probably easier to find in parts of mainland U.S. OR - Typically Mexican chorizo is not a good alternative for Spanish chorizo.What is Spanish style chorizo?
Spanish chorizo is a cured, or hard, sausage made from coarsely chopped pork. The red color of Spanish chorizo is due to the heavy amounts of paprika in the spice mix. Depending on the type of paprika used, Spanish chorizo can be either spicy or sweet.What is the difference between chorizo and Italian sausage?
Fresh chorizo is raw, made with ground pork, and resembles hot Italian sausage in texture and appearance. It's the stuff that you'd get behind the butcher's case. Dry chorizo also looks like sausage, but more like cured sausages and salame.Tips for Identifying and Choosing the Right Chorizo- Kitchen Conundrums with Thomas Joseph
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