What Mexican sausage is a common taco filling and is usually seasoned with chili peppers? Chorizo.
Mexican chorizo is a fresh, highly seasoned sausage commonly used as a taco filling. Unlike the firm, cured Spanish style, Mexican chorizo is usually sold uncooked and must be removed from its casing and thoroughly fried before eating. It is often made with pork, though beef, poultry, venison, and other versions also exist.
Chili peppers give Mexican chorizo much of its characteristic heat and deep red color. Vinegar, garlic, salt, and other spices are also common. The mixture is generally ground rather than chopped, and cooks often crumble it in a pan until it resembles seasoned minced meat. Chorizo can be served alone in tacos or combined with potatoes, eggs, beans, or melted cheese.
A common mix-up is treating all chorizo as the same product. Spanish chorizo is typically fermented, cured, and smoked, with paprika providing its signature color and flavor. Mexican chorizo’s fresh texture and chile-based seasoning make it a different regional tradition, even though both descend from Iberian sausage-making.