Spanish chorizo, a food that brightens up your dishes

Have you tried one of the most famous cured sausages in the world? We tell you everything you need to know about delicious Spanish chorizo.

What it is:
Chorizo is one of the most popular and highly consumed food products in Spain. It is an air-cured sausage (it can also be smoked) which is mainly made from minced pork. In Spain, for a chorizo to be considered as such, it must contain garlic and paprika (mild or hot), as this is what makes our chorizo different from that of other countries.

Description:

• The shape of Spanish chorizo is similar to a sausage. It is common for both ends to be joined by a piece of string. Several smaller chorizos can also be strung together.
• It usually has a diameter of 30-40 millimetres.
• As it is cured, its consistency is compact and firm.
• It has a rough surface and the paprika gives it an intense red colour.
• Its aroma and flavour are intense and, at the same time, well-balanced, with a pleasant texture on the palate.
• It can be mild or spicy.
  

Where it is made:
Chorizo is a very traditional food in Spain that has been present in our gastronomy since the seventeenth century, as some historical accounts suggest, and it is closely linked to country life. This cured sausage is made in virtually every town across Spain, using artisanal methods, meaning there are many different varieties of chorizo. The most popular and widespread is presented in a horseshoe shape (its two ends are joined by a string that is cut before it is eaten for the first time).

For decades Palacios Alimentación has made its delicious chorizos in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja. Since Palacios was established, we have aimed to offer the best products. Which is why all our chorizos are made without preservatives or colourings, giving them a unique quality and flavour.

How to eat it:
Spanish chorizo is a delicious, unique and very versatile product as an ingredient in recipes, and it can be eaten raw or cooked in the following ways.

• In tapas: as an appetizer cut into slices, on its own or with bread, cheese and wine.
• In soups like chorizo bean soup (link to recipe for Spanish Chorizo Bean Soup) or chicken and chorizo stew (link to Chicken and chorizo stew)
• In pasta dishes
• On pizza
• In vegetable dishes
• In rice dishes or paella (link to recipe for chicken and chorizo paella)
• In sandwiches
• To accompany fried or scrambled eggs, Spanish tortilla, omelettes (link to recipe for Spanish tortilla with chorizo)
• Barbecued

Why eat it: Chorizo Palacios is a high-quality, internationally renowned product made without preservatives or colourings, it is also lactose and gluten free, giving it a unique quality and flavour.
As part of a healthy, balanced diet, eating chorizo provides health benefits such as:

• Essential amino acids that help to repair tissue and aid digestion.
• Vitamin B-1, which helps the body use certain amino acids more efficiently and turn food into energy.
• Vitamin B-12, a positive influence on nerve function, and aids the use of iron in our body.
• Selenium, which helps prevent damage caused by free radicals.