Is there a more appealing sausage than chorizo? Blazing red from smoked paprika and heady with garlic, it’s a classic Spanish ingredient that packs a lot of punch. In New York, the best chorizo doesn’t actually come from Spain, but from Spanish food company Despaña. Due to strict US laws, some of Spain’s most drool-worthy products aren’t allowed into the country, so Despaña makes their own here in Queens. Most stores in New York sell the dry-cured variety – the kind with a firm, salami-like texture that’s great for eating out of hand, but a bit tough to cook with. Despaña’s freshly-made chorizo, however, is soft and ideal for cooking. Whenever a recipe calls for chorizo, this is the one you want to use.
For a great chorizo dish, check out this classic recipe.