Tag Archives: chorizo recipes

Tomato and Freekeh Soup with Chorizo and Kale

As I continue my discovery and education regarding ancient grains, I stumbled on freekeh, actually cracked freekeh. It seems that freekeh ,serving for serving, actually has more protein and twice as much fiber as quinoa. Please note that if you need to eat gluten free, freekeh would not be the ancient grain for you. Cooked cracked freekeh tastes much like rice. Tomato and Rice soup was my initial inspiration for the recipe. This soup is hearty and can be served as a meal. The taste of chorizo is enhanced by the smoky paprika.  Using chicken chorizo lowers the fat in the recipe. The combination of smoky, sweet and nutty is delicious! Enjoy!

From by the bay wishing you smoky food memories!

Maryann

free-keh

noun

  1. is a type of ancient wheat grain. The wheat is harvested young and green. This wheat is roasted over an open fire, the straw and chaff are burned and rubbed off. The grain on the inside is too young and moist to burn, so what you’re left with is a firm, slightly chewy grain with a distinct flavor that’s earthy, nutty, and slightly smoky.

Freekeh has several health benefits. Freekeh is low in fat and high in protein and fiber. Freekeh is high in iron, calcium, and zinc, and acts like a prebiotic, promoting the growth of good bacteria in your digestive system.

Tomato and Freekeh Soup with Chorizo and Kale

Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken Chorizo sausages, approx. 12 ounces, sliced into 1/4 inch thick rounds
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 large leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, rinsed well and thinly sliced
  • 2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 13 ounces canned tomatoes puree
  • 14 ounces cherry tomatoes
  • 10 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup cracked freekeh
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 4 cups lacinato/tuscan kale, stemmed and chopped
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

In a stock pot heat 1 tablespoon of oil and saute the sliced chorizo over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the pieces start to brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside in a bowl. Add remaining tablespoon of oil to the pot. Add leeks and cook, stirring frequently, until just soft approximately 4 minutes. Add garlic, cumin and freekeh. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add broth and sweet and smoked paprika; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, partially cover and cook for 20 minutes, until freekeh is cooked.  Add kale, salt, pepper and the reserved chorizo; cook, stirring, until the kale is wilted about 5 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper for seasoning. Serve warm.

Chorizo and Cornbread Dressing

Let me start with the simple fact that any stuffing or dressing that I would serve my family along with a Roasted Turkey needs to have some type of sausage meat in the recipe. This rule was served hard and fast by my niece many years ago. Allow me to quote her very words, ” don’t mess around with the stuffing Aunt Mare”!  So when I was messing around in the kitchen working on a new dressing recipe, two things were clear, the recipe had to be so good that the family could accept a new version of one of their favorite dishes and the recipe needed to include sausage meat. I choose a wonderful soft chorizo to breakdown and fry up for this dressing. I brought a prepared cornbread to save time, toasted it in the oven and this was the base. Next it was matter of adding some of my favorite flavors together, including fresh corn and sage. This dressing was a big hit with my family including my niece. I predict this will be a big hit for your Thanksgiving as well.

From by the bay, wishing you yummy sausage dressing food memories!

Maryann



blog cornbread dressing 2012


Chorizo and Cornbread Dressing

Serves 6

6 cups stale cornbread, cut into 1/2” cubes and toasted

1 pound soft chorizo meat, remove casings

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 large celery stalks, chopped

1 large Vidalia onion, chopped

2 cups fresh corn kernels ( or 1 10 ounce bag frozen corn kernels)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced

1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped

1/8 teaspoon dried rubbed sage

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

2 cups low sodium chicken stock

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Directions

To make dressing place a large skillet on medium heat and cook chorizo, crumbling the meat with a fork until fully cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and place into a large mixing bowl. Add butter to the same skillet, melt butter and then add the celery and onion. Saute ingredients together until softened about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and corn, cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the herbs and cook another minute. Remove from heat and add to the bowl with the cooked chorizo meat. Add the bread cubes and chicken stock to the bowl. Mix the ingredients together and season with salt and pepper. The dressing can be made up to this point one day in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake. Remove from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Place dressing into a lightly buttered baking dish. Bake in a 350 oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve warm.

 

Sweet and Sour Chorizo

Inspired by a dish I recently enjoyed out, here is an easy little nibble to serve with your favorite wine, cocktail or beverage. You simply cut up and saute some chorizo and while your chorizo is cooking, add a few ingredients into a saucepan and reduce into a deep, rich ,sweet and sour sauce to pour over your chorizo bites and serve. Fragrant, spicy , salty , sweet and sour, you are bound to enjoy!

From by the bay wishing you sweet and sour food memories!
Maryann
blog sweet sour chorizo
Sweet and Sour Chorizo
Serves 4 as appetizer
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 pound smoked Spanish chorizo, cut on the diagonal into slices about 1/4 inch thick
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
Directions
In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat for about 1 minute. Cook the chorizo and garlic for 2-3 minutes, turning the sausage once during cooking. Set sausage aside in a serving dish.  Place in a medium saucepan the vinegars, brown sugar, water, cinnamon and cloves. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes reducing liquid to half. Cover the chorizo with the hot liquid and serve.