Chorizo is, without a doubt, one of the stars of Spanish cuisine. This bright red sausage is beloved when grilled, placed on top of huevos rotos, or blended into a special Spanish omelette. The flavor quotient of chorizo is off the charts, making it much more flavorful than many other sausages found around the world. But what gives it its amazing taste?
Paprika
The spice that gives chorizo its characteristic color and flavor is paprika. Made from crushed red peppers and smoked, you’ll find paprika in both sweet and spicy variants. Both are used in chorizo, creating some which are spicy and others which are sweeter. As such, it’s quite smoky and delicious.
Garlic
Spanish chorizo also always contains a bit of garlic, which isn’t as noticeable as the paprika but strengthens the sausage’s flavor backbone. Pungent, spicy, and a little bit sweet when cooked in the chorizo, this classic spice couldn’t miss the party.
Salt
It might go without saying, but salt is another key component of chorizo’s one-of-a-kind flavor. Used in generous quantities in this Spanish classic, the salt really brings out the flavor of the pork which is used to make the finished product.
