The 5 Best Substitutes for Spanish Chorizo

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If you love Spanish food, you will likely fall in love with the flavor of chorizo.

Chorizo is a sausage from Spain and is typically made from pork meat.

The most common type of chorizo is spicy, but not all varieties are.

Chorizo is combined with garlic, paprika, cumin, and other spices to make a perfect addition to Spanish dishes like paella.

However, finding this delicious sausage in an American grocery store can be frustrating due to its name – it is spelled differently here in the US.

In addition to this, it can be not easy to find a similar product that gives you the same flavor and enhances your Spanish dishes just as much.

This article will look at some of the best substitutes for Spanish chorizo, so you never have to go without it again.

What is Spanish Chorizo?

If you love meat and you love cooking with meat, then Spanish Chorizo is something you need in your life.

Made from pork and flavored with smoked paprika, garlic, and salt, this sausage looks like a normal sausage but tastes far more interesting than that.

But what makes chorizo stand out isn’t just its complex flavor profile.

What makes chorizo unique is the fact that it’s a dried sausage.

Typically, making the Spanish dish involves slicing or chopping raw chorizo into smaller pieces and frying in a skillet until they turn brown and crispy.

The crispy chorizo pieces form a bed of flavor perfect for serving on top of or alongside other dishes.

If you’re a solo diner, you can even use chorizo pieces as extra flavor in your dishes.

It’s a secret weapon that will have the tastebuds cheering.

The 5 Best Substitutes for Spanish Chorizo

Spanish chorizo is a flavorful and versatile sausage that adds depth and richness to various dishes.

However, if you are unable to find Spanish chorizo or simply want to explore alternative options, there are several substitutes that can provide similar characteristics.

In this guide, we will compare the top 5 substitutes for Spanish chorizo, discussing their key characteristics and providing suggestions on proper ratios to ensure delicious results in your recipes.

Substitute	Key Characteristics	Proper Ratio
Mexican Chorizo	Spicy and flavorful with a crumbly texture	Use an equal amount of Mexican chorizo as a substitute
Linguica	Smoky and tangy with a firm texture	Use an equal amount of linguica as a substitute
Andouillette Sausage	Rich and savory with a distinct offal flavor	Use an equal amount of andouillette sausage as a substitute
Salami	Bold and savory with a chewy texture	Use an equal amount of salami as a substitute
Kielbasa Sausage	Smoky and mildly spiced with a firm texture	Use an equal amount of kielbasa sausage as a substitute

Now let’s dive into each substitute in more detail:

1 – Mexican Chorizo

A close second, Mexican Chorizo is a spicy dry sausage.

Its main ingredient is ground pork with red chilies and oregano.

However, it also has variations, as some mixtures may include paprika, cumin, coriander seeds, garlic, cocoa powder, and even coffee beans.

Since the meat used in the sausage is uncooked, the dish is typically cooked before serving.

For this same reason, Mexican chorizo can be crumbled or sliced and eaten as a side dish.

You can also crumble the sausage onto tacos and mix it with other ingredients for a gourmet meal.

• Key Characteristics: Mexican chorizo is a spicy and flavorful sausage typically made from ground pork seasoned with chili peppers and other spices. It has a crumbly texture and adds a rich depth of flavor to dishes.
• Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of Mexican chorizo as a substitute for Spanish chorizo. Adjust the quantity based on your taste preferences and recipe requirements.

2 – Linguica

Linguica is a distinctive Portuguese sausage.

It’s similar to the Mexican Chorizo in that it is spicy and can be eaten with other ingredients or alongside meals.

This sausage is also made from ground pork but contains salt, white pepper, garlic, red wine, and paprika.

In addition to its main ingredients, this sausage may also include nutmeg, allspice, and cayenne pepper.

There are many ways to enjoy this sausage.

These include slicing it to form a bed for your meal, cooking it with other ingredients in a dish, or even crumbling the meat onto a meal you have already prepared.

• Key Characteristics: Linguica is a Portuguese sausage that shares similarities with Spanish chorizo. It has a smoky and tangy flavor profile, often seasoned with garlic and paprika. Linguica has a firm texture, making it suitable for grilling or cooking in stews and soups.
• Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of linguica as a substitute for Spanish chorizo. Adjust the quantity based on your taste preferences and recipe requirements.

3 – Andouillette Sausage

One of the most distinguished French sausages, andouillette is also a smoked sausage.

It contains tripe and pig intestines, which may be used in place of the stomach.

In addition, it has ingredients such as salt, thyme, and white pepper that produce a strong flavor.

Andouillette is a popular dish in France, especially in Normandy.

Andouillettes are usually served on their own with French fries or bread, but they can also be sliced and added to other dishes like soup or pasta.

The tripe meat is also sometimes used to make roulades.

The sausage meat is stuffed into individual pieces of tripe or pig intestine, then rolled up and tied together.

• Key Characteristics: Andouillette sausage is a French delicacy known for its rich and savory flavor. It has a distinct offal taste due to the inclusion of pork offal in the ingredients. While it may differ in flavor from Spanish chorizo, it can provide a unique and robust flavor to your dishes.
• Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of andouillette sausage as a substitute for Spanish chorizo. Adjust the quantity based on your taste preferences and recipe requirements.

4 – Salami

Salami is a dry Italian sausage made from cured meats, typically beef and pork.

It often contains garlic and other spices such as coriander, fennel, or aniseed.

Salami can be sliced to form a bed for many dishes, including pasta and salads.

It’s also well suited for crumbled onto meals in small amounts or for being rolled with other ingredients.

If you are looking to cook with salami, it’s important to remember that cured meats can sometimes come out tough and dry if you over-cook them.

To avoid this, slice the meat as thinly as possible or use a slow cooker to make sure your dish remains moist and delicious.

• Key Characteristics: Salami is a cured sausage that varies in flavor depending on the region and type. It typically has a bold and savory taste, with various spices and seasonings. Salami has a chewy texture and can add depth to dishes requiring Spanish chorizo.
• Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of salami as a substitute for Spanish chorizo. Adjust the quantity based on your taste preferences and recipe requirements.

5 – Kielbasa Sausage

Kielbasa is a Polish-style sausage made with coarsely ground pork and garlic.

This sausage style can be enjoyed in many ways, including by slicing it to form a bed for your meal or cooking it alongside dishes.

It’s even well suited for crumbled onto meals as well as being rolled into them.

Kielbasa can also be used to form all kinds of meat mixtures, including burgers.

The taste and texture of the sausage are well suited to these types of dishes, and it can elevate them from average to top-notch.

Make sure to cook kielbasa thoroughly to avoid getting sick, as raw pork may contain salmonella.

• Key Characteristics: Kielbasa is a Polish sausage known for its smoky and mildly spiced flavor. While it may not have the same level of heat as Spanish chorizo, kielbasa can provide a similar smokiness and firm texture to your recipes.
• Proper Ratio: Use an equal amount of kielbasa sausage as a substitute for Spanish chorizo. Adjust the quantity based on your taste preferences and recipe requirements.

Conclusion

Spanish chorizo is a delicious sausage that can be enjoyed with other ingredients on its own, as the main ingredient in a dish or even crumbled onto meals.

Fortunately, there are many effective substitutes for Spanish chorizo that you can use to make your dishes taste great without worrying about getting sick.

Andouillette and Mexican Chorizo are similar in that they can often be found crumbled onto dishes, while Linguisa and Salami are greatly sliced or cooked into a dish.

Finally, kielbasa is a delicious sausage that can be combined with other ingredients to make tasty dishes.

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