chorizo

beer

Yummy Links: From Top Chef's Finale to Spanish Chorizo

Photo courtesy of Bravo

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Bean and Bacon Soup

On chilly weeknights, I gravitate toward one-pot soups and stews.

On chilly weeknights, I gravitate toward one-pot soups and stews. To make them a complete meal, I toss in beans, as they not only add a creamy quality to the meal but are also a great source of protein and fiber.

However, as wholesome as beans are, they don't have much flavor on their own. That's why this recipe calls for the brilliant addition of bacon to provide meaty flavor and body to the broth. For a soul-warming soup that's also filling enough to be a stand-alone dinner, keep on reading.

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Spicy Fettuccine With Clams

Linguine and clams is one of my all-time favorite meals.

Linguine and clams is one of my all-time favorite meals. I've made countless variations, sometimes with cream, other times with a ton of herbs or bacon. However, I've never made pasta with clams and chorizo! This mouthwatering recipe is simple, but luxurious. It's the perfect meal to start the weekend. The quick sauce is made with sautéed garlic, chorizo, white wine, and diced tomatoes. A generous sprinkling of parsley finishes it off. Be sure to serve with a loaf of crusty bread for mopping up the flavorful sauce. To learn how it's done, read more

recipes

Reinvent Surf and Turf With Shrimp and Chorizo Skewers

There's something so satisfying about the combination of briny, salty seafood and hearty, juicy meat.

There's something so satisfying about the combination of briny, salty seafood and hearty, juicy meat. While this marriage — surf and turf — is nothing new, it gets cleverly updated in this simple recipe. The shrimp is tossed in a mixture of garlic, chile powder, and caraway seeds. Although caraway seeds aren't the first ingredient that comes to mind when making a quick marinade for shrimp, they enhance the flavor of the shrimp to better complement the chorizo. When grocery shopping for this dish, look for large shrimp, otherwise they won't fit around the chorizo slices. If you can't find chorizo, substitute linguiça or another spicy, robust sausage. To throw these babies on the barbie, get the recipe and read more

salads

Fast & Easy Dinner: Warm Chorizo, Potato, and Mint Salad

Give the classic combination of meat and potatoes new meaning with this Spanish-inspired dinner recipe.


Give the classic combination of meat and potatoes new meaning with this Spanish-inspired dinner recipe. It combines boiled fingerling potatoes with spicy chorizo and a tangy, fresh mint sauce.

Serve with a glass of Spanish wine and a chunk of crusty bread for mopping the delicious dressing. To have this meal on the table in under 20 minutes, you'll need the recipe, so read more

recipes

Say Cheese! Manchego Pizza With Chorizo and Shrimp

My obsession with all things Spanish is no secret.

My obsession with all things Spanish is no secret. From José Andrés to Crianza to paella, if it's Spanish, I love it! This affection includes manchego, Spain's most famous cheese. Manchego cheese is protected by a Denominación de Origen, meaning it can only be made from sheep that graze in the La Mancha region of Spain. The whole sheep's milk cheese must also be aged in natural caves for a minimum of two months.

Depending on how long it's aged, the flavor can range from mild to sharp. Manchego comes in a round shape and is cut into chunky wedges. The inedible rind gets its pattern from the manufacturing process that involves wrapping the cheese in sheets of a special woven grass. Manchego tastes creamy and slightly salty. Learn how to use the versatile Spanish cheese and check out the recipe for this scrumptious pizza when you read more

recipes

Sunday Slow Cooker: Thomas Keller's Cassoulet

Got guests over watching the Super Bowl this weekend?

Got guests over watching the Super Bowl this weekend? You can employ the help of a low-maintenance slow cooker during the game yet still impress your party with cassoulet. One of the benchmarks of classic French cooking, it's characterized by a copious mélange of grand meats, from duck confit to fine sausages.

Since this rendition was adapted from a recipe developed by celebrity chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller, it won't fail you! To wow your family this weekend, read more

salads

Fast & Easy Dinner: White Bean and Chorizo Salad

Take a trip to Spain in your kitchen tonight with this crunchy, filling, and flavorful salad.

Take a trip to Spain in your kitchen tonight with this crunchy, filling, and flavorful salad.

Canned white beans are combined with spicy chorizo before being tossed with a sherry vinaigrette. Sliced radishes add a refreshing crispness and black olives finish off this interesting dish with a salty tang.

The hard boiled eggs make the salad wonderfully well-balanced. Serve with crusty bread (for mopping the tasty dressing) and a glass of Spanish wine. For the recipe please read more

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicken With Sweet Potatoes and Chorizo

If you're stuck in a boring chicken rut, snap out of it with this flavorful recipe.


If you're stuck in a boring chicken rut, snap out of it with this flavorful recipe. Chicken is pan-seared and topped with a spicy poblano tomato sauce. Sweet potatoes and chorizo are cooked together until crisp to make a bed for the chicken and sauce.

To learn how to make this exciting dish, read more

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Spicy Mussels and Chorizo

Every year, the night before Thanksgiving, I like to treat my family to a luxuriously delicious dinner.

Every year, the night before Thanksgiving, I like to treat my family to a luxuriously delicious dinner. I usually choose a dish (like pasta or seafood) that is simple to make, not too rich, and has nothing to do with the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving.

Tonight I'll be serving up a huge pot of mussels. The plump shellfish is cooked in a fragrant broth of crushed tomatoes and white wine. Spanish chorizo provides a spicy meatiness to the sauce that is so scrumptious you'll want to lick the bowl!

To get the recipe — I'm pairing mine with crusty bread and a green salad — read more