Tag: breakfast

Homemade Mexican Chorizo

I love a good breakfast burrito, and my absolute favorite is an egg and chorizo breakfast burrito. There’s just something about the rich, spicy flavor of chorizo that pairs so perfectly with scrambled eggs. Today, I’m excited to share with you how to make Mexican chorizo from scratch. This chorizo recipe is a great guideline that you can adjust to suit your own tastes, so feel free to get creative!

The History of Chorizo

Chorizo is a beloved sausage with a long history that dates back to the Iberian Peninsula, where it originated in Spain and Portugal. Spanish chorizo is typically a cured, smoked sausage made with pork and seasoned with smoked paprika, giving it its characteristic red color.

When chorizo made its way to Mexico during the Spanish colonization, it underwent a transformation. Unlike its Spanish counterpart, Mexican chorizo is fresh and uncured, meaning it must be cooked before eating. The seasoning also evolved, with Mexican chorizo incorporating local spices and ingredients such as chili peppers, vinegar, and garlic.

One of the wonderful things about Mexican chorizo is that there isn’t just one set recipe. It can be made in many ways, depending on the region and the cook’s personal preferences. In Northern Mexico, you might find chorizo that’s spicier and richer, while in other regions, the flavor profile could be milder or more herbaceous. Personally, I love my chorizo with a bit more oregano, cumin, and red pepper flakes, but the recipe I’m sharing today is meant to be flexible, allowing you to adjust the ingredients to your liking.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground meat of choice (pork, chicken, turkey, or beef)
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Prepare the Spice Mix: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, garlic powder, coriander, oregano, red pepper flakes, ground cloves, and black pepper. Stir until well combined.
  2. Mix with Ground Meat: Add the ground meat to the bowl with the spices. Pour in the apple cider vinegar. Using your hands or a sturdy spoon, mix everything together until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the meat.
  3. Marinate: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the chorizo mixture for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight. This allows the flavors to meld together.
  4. Cook the Chorizo: To cook, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chorizo mixture and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until fully cooked and browned, about 8-10 minutes.

Serving Size and Nutritional Value

  • Serving Size: This recipe makes approximately 4 servings.
  • Calories per Serving: Approximately 250-300 calories, depending on the type of meat used.
  • Protein: 15-20g
  • Fat: 18-22g
  • Carbohydrates: 2-3g

Storage and Shelf Life

Homemade chorizo can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. When freezing, consider portioning the chorizo into smaller amounts so you can easily defrost just what you need.

Variations

As mentioned earlier, this recipe is incredibly versatile. While traditional Mexican chorizo is often made with pork, you can substitute ground chicken, turkey, or beef if you prefer a leaner option or different flavor profile. You can also play around with the spice levels by adjusting the amount of red pepper flakes or adding other spices you enjoy.

Summary

Mexican chorizo is a flavorful and versatile ingredient that can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes, but it shines especially in breakfast burritos paired with scrambled eggs. You can also use it in tacos, quesadillas, or even as a topping for nachos. It pairs wonderfully with warm tortillas, fresh salsa, and a refreshing drink like horchata or a cold beer. Whether you stick to this recipe or make it your own, homemade chorizo is sure to add a delicious kick to your meals!

Mexican Chorizo

Homemade breakfast sausage that would make Jimmy Dean jealous.

I love breakfast and my favorite breakfast food is breakfast sausage. But, the sausage we buy at the store is filled with additives, preservatives, lots of salt and sometimes ingredients that we can’t even pronounce. My homemade sausage is fantastic with no preservatives and you control how much salt goes in and you know every ingredient in your sausage. This is so good that even Jimmy Dean will be jealous. It is quick and easy, so enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground pork (can be substituted for chicken, turkey, or venison)

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried parsley

1/4 tsp ground sage

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp ground coriander

(optional – 1/2 tsp MSG to enhance flavor)

Directions:

  1. Combine all seasonings together then mix well with meat until fully incorporated.
  2. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour for the meat to soak in the spices. Overnight is even better!
  3. Form into patties or stuff into casings to form links and pan fry until cooked as desired.
  4. Enjoy!
Homemade Breakfast Sausage that would make Jimmy Dean jealous

You can purchase a cast iron pan to cook your breakfast sausage at Amazon.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure policy.

How to make Sourdough English Muffins

Have you ever wondered what else you can do with your sourdough discard?  One of the many things you can use it for is to create sourdough English Muffins.  Sourdough English Muffin are delicious and easy to make.  My family loves these home made English Muffins and we eat them for breakfast with butter or jam and we even put on some sausage and egg to create our own version of the McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin.  Join me and let’s make a batch.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of fed starter

2 Cups of milk

2 TBS of honey

5 Cups of all-purpose flour divided

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

1 tsp

Directions:

  1. Add starter to a bowl and then combine with the milk.  Stirring to dissolve starter into milk.
  2. Add honey and mix in.
  3. Add 4 cups of flour and mix in.
  4. Cover and let it rest at room temperature overnight.
  5. Uncover and punch down dough.
  6. Add baking soda and salt to dough and kneed in, add flour as needed to keep dough from sticking.  May need to add up to 1 cup of flour.  Kneed for 5 mins.
  7. Use a rolling pin to roll dough out to a ½ inch thickness, then using a 3-inch biscuit cutter cut out your muffins from the dough.
  8. Place cut muffins on parchment paper that has corn meal sprinkled on it.  Sprinkle corn meal on top of the muffins. 
  9. Let muffins rise for 45 mins. 
  10. Cook 4 to 5 muffins at a time in a buttered cast iron pan at low to medium heat.  Cook the muffins approximately 4 mins per side until each side has a nice golden color.
  11. Remove from pan and eat! You can eat them with butter, peanut butter, jam, or add egg and sausage with some cheese to make a sausage muffin. 

How to make Sourdough English Muffins

Old Fashioned Homemade Pancakes, just like grandmas!

Pancakes are the ultimate feel-good breakfast food and you probably have settled for making yours with a mix from a box. The box pancakes are fair, but it you want those light and fluffy tasty pancakes that your grandma used to make without having to drive out to the nearest IHOP. All you have to do is follow this simple recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ cup white sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 cup room temperature milk
1 egg at room temperature
1 tbsp oil

Directions
1. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
2. Add milk, egg and 1 tablespoon oil and mix well.
3. Preheat a griddle or a cast iron pan over medium high heat, and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
4. When griddle is hot pour batter onto griddle in a 4-5 inch circle. Cook until bubbles form on the top of the pancake and the edges are dry (this will take 4-5 minutes). Flip and cook until browned on both sides (another 4-5 minutes). Repeat with remaining batter and all batter is cooked.
5. Plate the pancakes and top with your desired toppings such as butter, fruit, powdered sugar, or maple syrup.
6. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/OspREDaYCqg
Old Fashioned Homemade Pancakes

Homemade Yogurt

Yogurt is one of my family’s favorite breakfast items. It makes a quick breakfast by itself or even with a little fruit or granola mixed into it. However, store bought yogurt can contain lots of added sugars and preservatives. Why buy store bought yogurt with all those additives when you can make it at home with just three ingredients. It is super easy and requires little work to make, it just requires time in your Instant Pot.

Ingredients:
1.5 liters of ultra pasteurized milk (I prefer to use the fairlife brand)
1 fourteen ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
2 tbs of yogurt starter*

*note – You can use yogurt cultures or just use some store bought plain Greek yogurt. I like to use 2 Tbs of Fage Greek yogurt for my starter. Once you have made your own batch of yogurt you can use your own yogurt as a starter for future batches by just setting some aside to use later. I freeze 2 Tbs from each of my batches and then defrost it when I am ready to make yogurt.

Directions:
1. Pour your ultra pasteurized milk into your instant pot.
2. Add the sweetened condensed milk. You can use all the can for a sweeter yogurt, or you less depending on your personal taste. You may even omit the sweetened condensed milk and without this, you will have a Greek yogurt.
3. Add you starter
4. Mix all the ingredients together with a whisk.
5. Put your lid on your instant pot and set to yogurt mode for 8 hours.
6. After 8 hours you can remove your yogurt and refrigerate it until you are ready to eat it. I refrigerate mine overnight before eating it the first time.
7. Enjoy!

Homemade Yogurt in your Instant Pot

You can purchase an Instant Pot to make yogurt at Amazon.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure policy.

French Toast Monkey Bread

Sunday morning breakfast just got better! We have combined French toast and Monkey Bread. This will be a game changer when you get your family or friends together for breakfast or brunch. This is easy to make and the combination of French toast, maple syrup and monkey bread is to die for.

Ingredients:

2 cans of biscuits
1 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. cinnamon
2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
powder sugar

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  2. Grease and flour a Bundt cake pan
  3. In a large bowl combine the heavy cream, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla extract and kosher salt. Whisk together until all is mixed and there are no cinnamon clumps.
  4. Cut all the biscuits into quarters and place cut biscuits into the bowl with the egg mixture, mix together to coat each piece.
  5. Place the egg coated biscuit pieces into the Bundt pan.
  6. In a sauce pan mix together the maple syrup and butter until it starts to simmer and all butter is melted.
  7. Pour the syrup mixture into the Bundt pan over all the monkey bread pieces.
  8. Place in preheated oven for 25 – 30 minutes until golden brown. TIP – place a cookie sheet in the oven below the Bundt pan to capture any of the mixture that may bubble over.
  9. When cooked remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
  10. Remove Bundt cake from pan by placing a plate underneath and turning over.
  11. Pour over more syrup and sprinkle powdered sugar.
  12. Enjoy!
French Toast Monkey Bread

Click here to get the recipe to make homemade vanilla extract