Chorizo Or Homemade Mexican Sausage Food

READY-TO-GO EGG BITES

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chorizo and onion and cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and the chorizo is fully cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain the excess grease. Set aside to cool.
• Combine the eggs, heavy cream, sour cream, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• Generously coat the cups of a silicone egg bites mold (you can find them online!) with cooking spray. Divide the cheese among the cups. Divide the chorizo and onion among the cups. Then fill the cups with the egg mixture, leaving a little space at the top.
• Multi-cooker directions: Set the trivet in a multi-cooker, then carefully pour 1 cup water into the pot. Cover the mold snugly with foil and carefully lower it onto the trivet.
• Secure the lid on the multi-cooker and set the pressure valve to sealing. Press the steam button and set it to 10 minutes. (Note: It will take several minutes for the pressure to build, after which the 10-minute timer will automatically start counting down.)
• After the 10 minutes are up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to move the valve to venting, which will let the rest of the pressure release quickly.
• When the pressure is fully released, carefully remove the lid. Remove the silicone mold from the machine. Peel back the foil and turn the egg bites onto a plate. They should pop right out!
• Standard oven directions: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pour water into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish until it's halfway full. Set the mold in the baking dish, then cover the baking dish with foil. Bake until the eggs are set, about 1 hour. Let the mold sit in the water for 10 minutes before removing the egg bites from the mold.
• Freezing and reheating instructions: Freeze by placing the bites on a lightly greased sheet pan or plate and freeze for 45 minutes. Transfer to a plastic zipper bag and return to the freezer.
• To reheat 1 or 2 bites, wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 1 minute. Let sit for 1 minute before eating.

SMOKY CHORIZO CHILI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Crumble in the chorizo. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the chorizo with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 3 minutes. Add the red onion and bell peppers and cook until they begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeno, ancho powder, cumin, smoked paprika and oregano. Cook and stir to coat the meat and vegetables in the spices, about 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, beef broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, then stir in the black beans and butternut squash. Simmer, uncovered, until the chili is thick and flavorful and the veggies are tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Serve the chili with bowls of the toppings on the side for passing at the table.

HOMEMADE CHORIZO

Steps:

• In a medium size bowl, mix the pork, salt, pepper, chile powder, garlic, oregano, coriander, cumin and vinegar thoroughly. Refrigerate, in an airtight container, overnight. This allows the flavors to meld. The chorizo may also be frozen.

QUESO FUNDIDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cook the chorizo in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it renders, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, serrano and garlic and continue cooking until the chorizo is crisp and the onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the mixture from the skillet and transfer to a bowl. Toss the cheeses with the flour in a separate bowl.
• Add the beer to the skillet, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Whisking constantly, add the cheese mixture a little bit at a time, whisking until smooth and well blended. Stir in the beans, chiles and chorizo mixture.
• Place the skillet in the oven and cook until the queso is hot and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Garnish with scallions and tomato and serve with tortilla chips.

CHORIZO NACHOS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saute pan, cook the chorizo over medium-high heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel to drain off excess fat.
• In a saucepan, add the wine and lemon juice. Bring slowly to a boil and reduce the heat to medium low. Add the cheese and cornstarch and whisk until the cheese is fully melted.
• Arrange the tortilla chips on a serving platter. Drizzle with the melted cheese mixture. Top with chorizo-onion mixture. Garnish with the cilantro and chives. Serve immediately.

HOMEMADE CHORIZO

Steps:

• Prepare the casing.
• Soak the casing in cold water for 30 minutes to soften, then run water through it to remove excess salt and check for leaks. (You can buy casings from most butchers.)
• Blend the chiles.
• Remove the seeds from the chipotles, and finely chop in a food processor with the garlic, vinegar and tequila.
• Chop the pork.
• Cut any silver skin off the pork butt, then cut it into 3-inch chunks.
• Grind the meat.
• Grind the pork in a meat grinder (or mixer with a grinder attachment) with a 316-inch die. Use the feed tube to push the meat through gently.
• Season the meat.
• First, "de-bling" (take off your rings!); you'll be mixing with your hands. Combine the dry spices-cumin, salt, chili powders, onion, paprika, oregano and white pepper-in a small bowl. Then season the pork in layers: Place half the ground meat in a large bowl, cover with half the spice mixture and half the garlic-vinegar mixture, then add the rest of the meat, spices and garlic mixture. Combine everything with your hands; it's the best way to make sure all the meat gets seasoned.
• Thread the casing.
• Remove the die from the grinder and attach the sausage-stuffing tube, then slide the whole casing onto the tube, leaving enough at the end to tie into a tight knot.
• Stuff the casing.
• With the mixer on low, gently feed the sausage mixture into the tube, using one hand to guide the casing out at the right speed; be careful not to overstuff or tear the casing.
• Form the links.
• Turn off the mixer after you get about 3 to 4 feet of sausage and cut and tie off the casing. Retie the casing on the stuffing tube and continue making the remaining sausage. Pinch and then twist the long pieces of sausage about every 8 inches to form links. Place the linked sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate overnight to dry.
• Grill the sausage.
• Preheat one side of a grill to medium-high and the other to low. Lightly brush the grill with oil, then grill the sausages until they're browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Move to low heat and continue grilling until they're cooked through, 5 to 7 more minutes.