How to Make Chorizo : Food Network

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Homemade Chorizo

Guy's a true Californian and loves cooking outdoors. He made this sausage at one of his favorite wineries.

get the recipe

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Prepare the Casing

Soak in cold water for 30 minutes to soften.

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Prepare the Casing

Run water through it to remove excess salt and check for leaks. (You can buy casings from most butchers.)

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Blend the Chiles

Remove the seeds from the chipotles, and finely chop in a food processor with the garlic, vinegar and tequila.

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Chop the Pork

Cut any silver skin off the pork butt, then cut it into 3-inch chunks.

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Grind the Meat

Grind the pork in a meat grinder (or mixer with a grinder attachment) with a 3/16-inch die. Use the feed tube to push the meat through gently.

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Clean Up

After you've ground the pork, grind some bread to help clean the meat out of the machine.

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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.

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Season the Meat

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Form the Links

Place the linked sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate overnight to dry.

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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.

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Try This at Home: How to Make Chorizo

Homemade Chorizo

Prepare the Casing

Prepare the Casing

Blend the Chiles

Chop the Pork

Grind the Meat

Clean Up

Season the Meat

Season the Meat

Thread the Casing

Stuff the Casing

Form the Links

Form the Links

Grill the Sausage

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