Low Carb Chorizo & Eggs: Breakfast & Dinner

High carb meals can be satisfying but they often leave you bloated and lethargic. Not so with this easy low carb dinner of Chorizo and Eggs.  It’s easy to whip together and you won’t be lacking for compliments on the flavor.

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What is Spanish Chorizo vs. Mexican Chorizo?

Spanish chorizo and Mexican corizo are indeed different flavor profiles, and they aren’t necessarily interchangeable.

The Spanish version is smoked (cured) and the smoky flavor of the sausage is enhanced with liberal use of smoked paprika. This means it does not need to be cooked like the fresh ground version typical of Mexican chorizo.

The Mexican version is fresh, raw pork which is typically seasoned with vinegar and a variety of chile peppers. Mexican chorizo can be quite complex with the brighter spiciness of chile peppers that are not smoked.

They are both excellent however and if your dish calls for Spanish and all there is in the store is Mexican, use it! You will end up with a different dish but it will still be a robust flavor-filled dish.

Mexican chorizo is usually made with fresh pork (but can also be made from other meats such as beef and chicken) and usually needs cooking before eating. While similar to Spanish chorizo, it contains spices native to Latin America.

How to Cook Chorizo

Fresh Mexican chorizo is often referred to as soft ‘cooking’ chorizo. Cooking chorizo comes in pieces of sausages and it is common to remove the sausage casing and crumble the chorizo into a skillet.

Mexican chorizo is usually made with pork, although you’ll come across beef chorizo as well. It’s seasoned with plenty of traditional spices like dried chili, paprika and cumin.

The basic way to cook Mexican fresh chorizo is:

1. First, remove the membrane from the chorizo. Discard the membrane.
2. Saute whatever vegetables you might be using with the chorizo (typically it might include onions, garlic and tomatoes)
3. Crumble the chorizo into the frying pan with the vegetables. Cook for about 5 minutes until most of the fat from the chorizo has cooked off.

Spanish chorizos are made from cured pork that is heavily seasoned with paprika. It can be smoked or unsmoked, spicy or sweet (look for the words picante and dulce on the label to signify spicy or sweet). Because it’s cured, you can eat it straight out of the package or saute it along with whatever dish you are making.

Is Cilantro Necessary for Mexican Chorizo and Eggs?

There are two camps on cilantro, the lovers and the haters.  If you are a lover, then mince up some of the cilantro stems and add to the recipe when you add the other spices. 

If you are a hater…..well, it doesn’t hurt the dish one iota to leave it out entirely.

Accompaniments to Serve with Chorizo and Eggs

Eggs are typically a breakfast item. However, this hearty protein packed dish can be served any time of day- here are a few serving suggestions:

• If you are not on a low carb diet, mix in some diced potatoes for a chorizo hash
• Serve with low carb tortillas (or regular if not low carb)
• Top with some fresh pickled onions and feta cheese
• Switch up the sauces: here’s three delicious options. The recipe below uses romesco

Make it in Muffin Tins!

This recipe would also be easily adaptable to bake in muffin tins, so that everyone can customize to their own taste preferences and dietary needs.

Instead of making wells in the chorizo mix in the skillet, scoop the mix into muffin tins and crack an egg in each individual muffin cup, filling them about halfway or 3/4 full. Season and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes, or until desired “doneness” of the yolk.

Other Great Recipes Using Chorizo

The chorizo and egg recipe below is typically considered a breakfast dish. There is absolutely no reason it can’t stand in for a low carb dinner however. It is certainly filling with plenty of protein!

Chorizo is very versatile, and the dish you use it in can vary dramatically. Here are a few of my favorite recipes using chorizo:

• Spanish chickpea and spinach soup with chorizo
• Slow Carb Lentil & Chorizo Mulligan Stew
• Try this Basque Chicken and Chorizo Skillet Saute
• This DIY for cheese & jam pairings has some great ideas for using cured chorizo. Add some “cured/smoked” chorizo and other dried meats for a perfect chacuterie plate around the holidays or for social gatherings.

Similar Egg Recipes Without Chorizo

Here are some excellent egg dishes that you might enjoy for breakfast.

Oh, and if you want a really fresh organic paprika (smoked or not smoked) to use in this recipe, click here.

• North African Shakshouka
• Baked Eggs with Spinach and Bacon
• Zucchini Frittata
• Swiss Chard with Nested Eggs