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Chorizo and Eggs

Chorizo and Eggs

Growing up, we had some of the standard American foods for breakfast - cream o' wheat, oatmeal, waffles, fried eggs, pancakes (no sugar coated cereals in this household!) - and a couple things I never saw in any of my friends' homes - huevos, and my favorite chorizo with eggs. My mother is hispanic by ancestry and looks, and even though she doesn't speak a drop of Spanish she still cooks what she was taught by her mother, grandmother and relatives, growing up in Tucson, Arizona. Thus we alone on our block had chorizo, or Mexican sausage scrambled up with eggs. I didn't even know that chorizo was the name of the sausage and not the dish until I was in my twenties. What is chorizo? A spicy pork sausage. While the Spanish version is usually spiced with paprika and garlic, Mexican chorizo is spiced with chile peppers. I've seen chorizo served in Mexican restaurants most often as a side sausage, like bacon. We cook ours up with the eggs and add some raisins as well, the sweetness of which provides some balance to the spicy chile in the chorizo.

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Chorizo and Eggs Recipe

Ingredients

  • Olive oil or bacon fat
  • 1/3 cup chopped onions (green, red, or yellow onions) optional
  • 1/4 lb of Mexican chorizo sausage, removed from sausage casing
  • 3 Tbsp raisins - soaked in hot water for 15 minutes and drained
  • 5 to 6 eggs
  • Salt
  • Tortillas - optional
  • Cilantro - optional

chorizo-1.jpg
Chorizo sausage from Whole Foods. Whole Foods has a standard recipe and spices for making chorizo sausage and may make some up for you upon request if you don't see it displayed.

Method

1 Heat a large skillet on medium high heat. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil or bacon fat in the pan. Add the chopped onions (optional) and cook until softened. Once softened, move to the side of the pan and add break up bits of chorizo into the pan. Use a wooden spatula to break up the pieces of sausage. Add the raisins. Stir until the sausage is cooked through, though not necessarily browned. If you are not using lean chorizo, drain the excess fat from the pan before proceeding. If you are not using lean chorizo, you may want to cook the chorizo first, draining the excess fat, then remove to a plate while you cook the onions in the remaining fat. We usually cook with lean chorizo, so excess fat isn't an issue.

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eggs-chorizo-c.jpg eggs-chorizo-d.jpg

2 Crack the eggs one at a time, into the pan. Break the yolks and stir the eggs into the sausage. Add a light sprinkling of salt. Stir constantly until the eggs begin to set, but are still moist. Remove from heat.

Serve immediately with a side of warmed corn tortillas and cilantro as a garnish.

Serves 2-3.

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53 Comments

Mmmmm.. Chorizo. Living in San Antonio, TX we get this a lot. At least twice a week I stop by a place in Austin (where I work) called Taco Deli to get chorizo, papas, and cheese breakfast tacos. Papas are a Mexican mash potato that goes great with Chorizo. Many of my co-workers would just look at me strangely when I ordered them, now they can’t stop ordering them!

Posted by: Kevin on June 26, 2005 3:49 PM

It would be lovely to have a taste of that Mexican chorizo. I've only had the Spanish varieties. Are you familiar with longaniza, by the way?

Your entry is a revelation to me. In a way, it's very similar to our pistou (Filipino, no relation to the French) which I posted for the last EoMEoTE. Like you, we have a version with raisins, usually for omelette which we call torta. I was just wondering on the genealogy of our Filipinised Hispanic food and now I read your wonderful post.

Posted by: Karen on June 26, 2005 5:57 PM

chorizo mmmmmmm.... has anyone ever tried it as an appetizer? I had a party with fresh cooked chorizo and fresh hot corn tortillas with some salsa. I'm making myself hungry again.
The Stater Brothers grocery store here in California grinds it fresh every week, very lean and yummy.
Lesvia

Posted by: Lesvia De Leon on September 29, 2005 2:36 PM

CHORIZO,

a local & common Spanish food widely available in CEBU, PHILIPPINES, we can serve this dish to my family as a whole new experience

Posted by: Jomar Desuyo on November 1, 2005 8:23 PM

If you buy chorizo at the store, I recommend looking at the ingredient list and ensuring that it does not include "cereal"; or at least that it is way down on the list. Cereals can make the end result mushy and not at all fun to eat.

Posted by: KDSmith on December 2, 2005 11:46 PM

I love chorizo and eggs...my brother-in-law is Hispanic and he would often cook that for breakfast..great with flour tortillas, a.k.a. breakfast burrito.

Posted by: faith on March 12, 2006 9:01 PM

Living in El Paso, Chorizo & eggs is a staple. Served in every single restauarant. Mostly we use in a flour tortilla w/ cheese for a quick on the go meal.
I've never heard of it with raisins - makes it seem very Cuban, like picadillo.

Posted by: Nicole on March 19, 2006 11:54 PM

MMMMMM Chorizo! I work graveyard shift. 3 nights a week about 2 am I go to a 24 hour Mex drive thru. Get the Chorizo, potato, egg & cheese burrito. The soft potato chunks are key. Really adds some great texture & bulk to the burrito. Also since potatos are somewhat bland, it balances the spiceyness too. You know, in Mexico it's not Mexican food, it's just food.

Posted by: Mike on April 11, 2006 1:52 AM

Mama Garcia's brand of chorizo in San Antonio, TX makes a turkey chorizo, less grease fat. Add chopped fresh cilantro then you're cooking Mexican.

Posted by: Barbara on August 14, 2006 10:42 AM

I grew up eating chorizo and eggs too and I wanted to point out to some that unlike Spanish chorizo the "Mexican" version is soft and pasty. Actually the way I found this site was doing a search for a list of chorizo makers (manufacturers), which I have yet to find, because I want the specific brand my family in TX sends to us occasionally.

Anyhow, I usually throw the chorizo in the pan, fry it up a bit, drop in some eggs, mix and put into some flour tortillas.

One other option is to make "migas" (I think if I remember correctly), and first fry up some corn tortillas in butter in the pan, then throw the chorizo in and then eggs and eat without the flour tortillas. I try to make the corn tortillas as crispy as possible because with the addition of the eggs and chorizo they will get soggy; but that is just my preference.

Posted by: RK on November 2, 2006 11:19 AM

Love chorizo and eggs. Chorizo all goes very well in nachos too!

Posted by: John on October 24, 2007 2:21 PM

I never had this, until I got married. My MIL made this for me, with cactus. Delicious. I make burritos out of the Chorizo and Egg. Great recipe.

Posted by: Yvette on November 20, 2007 6:47 PM

I love chorizo! I use chorizo San Manuel. I have tried different brands and San Manuel is by far the best. If you live in Texas, give it a try. I buy mine at HEB stores.

My kids love the chorizo and mashed bean tacos, chorizo and egg and chorizo and potato tacos.

Posted by: Patty on November 29, 2007 9:00 AM

This was a great recipe! I made it for "brunch" today. My kids really enjoyed it also. I really enjoy your recipes.

Thanks,

Chanda

Posted by: Chanda on January 13, 2008 11:16 AM

I made this last weekend. It was really good! My whole family loved it. I used golden raisins. Thank you for the great recipe.

Posted by: Chanda on January 21, 2008 3:53 AM

OMG, Chorizo is my favorite. My mom makes it with tomato and onion (I think?) but I prefer to make it with just egg and then I like to warm up tortillas and get some cheese. The best breakfast ever (except for pancakes, nothing can be compared to pancakes! lol)
:)

Posted by: Andrea on February 19, 2008 4:00 PM

I'm Salvadorian. And we do pretty much the exact same thing, except with salvadorean chorizo... yummmmmy!! We serve it on fresh tortillas and WOW! Delicious yet very very inexpensive. I also put slices of avocado on my tortilla with this egg and chorizo. Thanks for showing this basic but very common recipe from my country Elise!

Posted by: teresa on March 13, 2008 7:07 AM

Question - I'm looking for a "Migas"??? recipe? I'm not sure of the spelling. I know that there are eggs; corn tortilla strips; some type of peppers and maybe onion?

I've had one at the local little taco/breakfast burrito stand, but I cannot understand the cook!

Posted by: sheri on March 31, 2008 4:47 AM

We can buy a Portuguese version (chourico) and a chicken chourico in the supermarkets here, thanks to the large Azorean community in nearby Fall River, Massachusetts. Also makes a great scramble with eggs.

Posted by: Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) on April 19, 2008 4:09 AM

Based on your post, I made some huevos rancheros earlier this week and absolutely fell in love with them! Now, I shall have to try these too - good thing I've got some chorizos in the freezer!

Posted by: Ellie @ Kitchen Wench on April 19, 2008 5:30 AM

I love chorizo, but for some reason, despite loving sausage for breakfast, never even thought of serving it for breakfast. Can you guess what I'll be doing tomorrow morning? Looks great!

Posted by: Mike on April 19, 2008 9:00 AM

Oh, yes! One of America's finest foods -- although the origin is from further south. A great way to start the day.

Posted by: Christina on April 19, 2008 9:26 AM

In Hawaii we use what is called - Portuguese sausage. Mild or hot available. Chorizo available, but Portuguese sausage rules. Common and well liked breakfast dish throughout all the islands.

Posted by: Nate on April 19, 2008 5:21 PM

I love making my own Chorizo out of boneless pork chops. That allows me to control the amount of oil I add to the sausage. My favorite taco is Papas(Potato) & Chorizo. Thanks for the post!

Posted by: kevin@opfor-paintball.com on April 19, 2008 7:54 PM

Big fan of chorizo but it's much too fatty to have in the fridge as a regular fixture. Great dish though!

Posted by: cameronpark on April 19, 2008 10:10 PM

We're blessed to have a wonderful Hispanic community in Kansas City and can treat ourselves to homemade chorizo. We love it! Thanks for the recipe.

Posted by: Everyday Mommy on April 20, 2008 8:34 AM

I love huevos con chorizo, and am so glad you added the recipe for homemade chorizo. I'd always rather make my own, if I can.

Posted by: Meg on April 20, 2008 10:17 AM

Breakfast just isn't breakfast without chorizo and eggs (or huevos rancheros)! I will have to try them with the raisins though. Sounds like a fantastic idea!

Growing up in Southeastern Arizona really taught me the joy of good Mexican food! Even though I'm living in Germany right now, I am fortunate enough to be able to find some chorizo!

Posted by: Matt on April 20, 2008 1:32 PM

Just saw turkey chorizo at Trader Joe's; will have to try this this week. I love sausage and eggs as breakfast, but, with a spicy sausage, I love it for an easy dinner even more. Thanks, Elise!

Posted by: Lady Amalthea on April 20, 2008 8:23 PM

I can't wait to try this dish. Cooked raisins make anything delicious in my opinion, especially when they're used with spicy food, like Cuban picadillo or chorizo.

Posted by: Paula on April 21, 2008 6:47 AM

I love Chorizo! Being of Hispanic descent, this was a staple in our house. I know that Hispanics all make food differently and so the raisins and onions were not in our Chorizo & Eggs. I've never encountered that out here in So Cal so maybe it's an Arizona thing. I'll have to give it a try. :)

Posted by: Denise on April 21, 2008 8:38 AM

Delicious! I am mildly obsessed with all things chorizo. Usually, I go with the hard Spanish kind, but the Mexican kind is amazing with eggs. Especially in a tortilla. Especially with fresh cilantro. YUM!

Posted by: bitchincamero on April 21, 2008 8:46 AM

I picked up some soy chorizo at the supermarket recently. I'm not a vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination, but I have always been a little squeamish about what mystery meat might be in the real stuff.
The soy-rizo is quite good, both taste and texture-wise.

Posted by: TheLoneIguana on April 21, 2008 9:14 AM

Hi! Living in Tucson, Arizona, I too have eaten chorizo and eggs all my life. In many stores here you can buy homemade chorizo but sometimes I can't find it. So one day, craving chorizo, I bought some that was made in a casing and not from Tucson. OMG, it was horrible! It had so much grease in it that I couldn't even cook it out. It turned into a more-than-greasy, mushy mess. I don't mind a little grease, but this was beyond greasy. Needless to say, it ended up in the garbage. If you can, stick to chorizo that is made by the butcher or make your own. By the way, I have never heard of raisins in chorizo!

Posted by: Diane Villegas on April 22, 2008 1:00 PM

I've had the most amazing egg burrito numerous times in St Augustine, FL at a place called The Gypsy Cab Company. They call it East LA Egges, Chorizzo, eggs, and peppers in a burrito. Most amazing thing I've ever eaten, have yet to order anything else at the place but I hear the other food is good as well :) I've done something similar at home throwing in hash browns cheese and canned green chilli's. Yum yum.

Posted by: Matt on April 22, 2008 3:52 PM

In Hawaii, and for all my travels, Portuguese Linguisa(ca)Sausage was available. Late 1890s brought many immigrants to the Islands; thus gave all the best breakfast meal around w/Linguisa, scrambled eggs and rice. Of course, the Kona coffee, papaya and/or mango iced tea were there also!

Posted by: Edwin Arita on April 22, 2008 7:12 PM

Has anyone has a Chorizo and re-fried beans with Queso fresco in a bollio (french roll) My grandma used to make them for us all the time. Wow did we enjoy them. She also made her own chorizo so it was not as greasy as some of the ones that are sold at the grocery stores. I think that I will dig up her receipe and make some Chorizo this weekend!

If you find her recipe, please share it with us! ~Elise

Posted by: Abuenin on April 22, 2008 7:41 PM

Don't forget, some ingredients in some chorizo is- pork salivary glands, lymph nodes, cheek and tongue fat. So if you use longaniza, it will taste the same and has less grease and no bi product.

Posted by: Neil on April 23, 2008 2:24 PM

This looks like my kind of breakfast. I just scrambled up some eggs and chorizo and black beans the other day and it was great, but what I find most different between spanish and mexican chorizo is that spanish is a lot of times cured and sliced and eaten as is, like salami or something, and is not usually used for cooking. But I've had my hand at cooking it many times, and it turns out great either way, especially with a bit of scrambled egg.

Posted by: courtney on April 24, 2008 3:02 AM

I absolutely love Chorizo - great recipe and awesome blog. Love the photos! (BTW, found you on Bloggers Choice Awards)

Posted by: Deb on April 28, 2008 8:33 AM

If you are shopping for Chorizo, you will notice there can be several brands side by side. I highly recomend you try the Supremo Brand out of Chicago. I live in Florida and will drive out of my way to buy this top quality Mexican Chorizo. The small mexican markets down here will drive up to Chicago and come back with a truck full of this brand becuase it sells so fast. If your grocery doesn't carry it, ask them to. If I can get it down here, most of the country should be able to. They ship all accross the midwest and south. It is extremely lean, full of flavor and no fillers. You will notice it is cased in a plastic tube which is not to be cooked in. Chorizo is meant to be crumbled into the pan. In cheaper brands you'll notice more fat and bits of meat scraps, and they don't get the seasoning right.
As Ernesto just pointed out, in Top quality Chorizo like the Supremo brand you can actually see shredded meat even though it is finely ground.
When I coook it, it makes just enough flavorful grease to keep the eggs from sticking. I always scramble my eggs in a glass bowl and then set it on the black stovetop to clearly see there are no egg shells in it.
I break up the chorizo by pinching off little pieces into the pan becuase Supremo is so dense and lean. I add plenty of finely diced onion so they will cook well togehter and pick up each others flavor. I saute this quickly and sometimes I add diced tomato and let the juices evaporate. Then I add the beaten eggs. Oh what heavenly flavor. Sometimes we add shredded cheeses.
At the table I season more with Cholula Hot Sauce, which is imported from Mexico. The bottle has a round wooden top. Don't be fooled by the many cheap American or Luisiana brands which are so vinager tasting. They have bite but no flavor. Cholula is the only thing that touches my eggs. It has a rich spicy flavor that doesn't burn.
I also recomend you serve Eggs with Chroizon with a side of Pico de Gallo. MMMMM, what a nice complimnetary flavor.
This delicous breakfast really requires a bread to go with it, whether you use tortillas or toast. It just balances it out well.

Posted by: Linda M on May 1, 2008 9:57 AM

Ok, so I stumbled to this morning... I had to make some chorizo con huevos for breakfast. Just made some tacos with flour tortillas and added some salsa cruda:

Tomatillos
Jalapeños
Onion
Garlic
Cilantro
Salt to taste
Add all to blender and give them a ride to your favorite texture consistency.

I thought about doing Molletes but was to hungry from reading.

Molletes:
Bolillo (baguette)
Cheese
Refried Beans
Chorizo

Spread beans on bread add cheese and chorizo
broil a few minutes and top with some fresh pico de gallo.

Provecho!

Posted by: Juan on May 25, 2008 7:00 AM

My very favorite breakfast is chorizo with shredded potatos and scrambled eggs,but you have to have the right chorizo.I had so much trouble finding good chorizo that I made it myself.Coarse ground pork,chili powder,garlic and cider vinegar, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm carumba.

Posted by: thomas w edwards on June 7, 2008 1:19 PM

First try cooking on low on a thick wad of paper towels 30-45 seconds in a microwave. the fat drains noticeably. carefully move to a pan and the trick is the flame- on low to medium- if you put it on high the texture becomes crumbly. As it starts to brown and separate with the spatula add the eggs - all of them- turn up heat a little-next and last trick work the mixture with your spatula constantly until desired doneness. I prefer moist. the result? An even texture and uniform cooking .try this method and proclaim me king-enjoy! P.S.- if your lucky and have access to either flour or corn homemade tortillas, get them! or get the best quality at your store.

Posted by: angel on June 8, 2008 7:28 AM

Chorizo is really good, but is loaded with fat. Safeway has soy chorizo, and it tastes amazing. I can't even taste the difference.

Posted by: adriana on July 9, 2008 3:35 PM

Just made chorizo and eggs for breakfast this morning, then happened on this blog. Growing up in AZ I have eaten this most of my life. Of all things, shopping in Walmart yesterday, I came across Johnsonville chorizo (yep, the Brat company) and I must say the chorizo was quite good and not at all fatty/greasy. I don't know if this is available elsewhere but yum!!

Posted by: Patt on July 13, 2008 1:04 PM

In terms of pork products, bacon cannot hold a flame to the deliciousness of Mexican chorizo. I got some from the co-op today from a farm/processor called Pastures A'Plenty from Minnesota. No nitra(i)tes, hormone-free, and full of flavor I recommend it highly. Also, for those who choose not to eat meat Field Roast makes a superb no-pork chorizo using seitan (no soy!). It's got the authentic onion, pepper, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Spicy!! Anyways, thanks for the raisin tip, I've never considered that!

Posted by: Chris on November 19, 2008 2:34 PM

I love chorizo and eggs my grandpa always cooked it for my brother and I growing up. Try it with a hash brown patty.

Posted by: brian on December 15, 2008 9:02 AM

Chorizo con huevo tacos have been a staple in my family growing up. I'm from San Antonio, TX and this is a common breakfast dish 'round here. I usually keep it simple and mix it with eggs or with 1 large can refried beans (no need to drain the grease if making it with beans). Serve in tortillas and you're done. I am weary, though, of the varieties out there and I only use the "Garcia" or "Kiolbasa" brands. They don't have unnecessary fillers and taste excellent.

Posted by: Rosalee on January 23, 2009 10:23 AM

Thanks, Courtney, for pointing out the difference between Spanish and Mexican chorizo. I had eaten chorizo a long time ago, and it was most definitely a "hard sausage." So imagine my surprise when I bought some Mexican chorizo and it was so very different! I thought maybe I had been wrong, that what I had eaten had been mislabeled or I was having a senior moment!

I must say, though, that I am now officially hooked on Mexican chorizo. I even put some on a make-it-yourself pizza, and it was amazing! But it is best with eggs and some cheese on top, with a side of leftover rice or potatoes.

Posted by: Stella Cadente on February 28, 2009 6:48 PM

Being the Filipino that I am, I really enjoy having authentic Mexican dishes such as this one. Now that i know how to cook it, the whole family can enjoy it =]

Posted by: ChA CHa on March 13, 2009 12:41 PM

Chorizo Mexicano, my favorite breakfast. Do make sure to drain the fat though. It still tastes the same without all the nasty grease.

Posted by: Diane Fernandez on August 26, 2009 9:38 PM

A man at WalMart, Clinton, Ut. told me to fry the chorizo, drain the fat, then add queso blanco cheese to the pan, let it melt and then use it like a dip for crackers and tortilla chips. Very nice.
Had never used or eaten chorizo. Not a bad experience

Posted by: nelly on October 18, 2009 6:52 PM

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