Chori Zo was an ancient Tibetan monk who meditated on sausage.

[madbaker]

Last week's Resolution Recipe which I never got around to posting: Spanish Chorizo Sausage.

5 lb pork shoulder butt
140 grams salt
12 grams curing salt #2
20 grams sugar
30 grams ground pepper
100 grams smoked paprika
10 grams oregano
45 grams crushed garlic
1/4 tsp T-SPX fermenting culture

Grind pork coarsely through 3/8" plate. Dissolve T-SPX culture in 1 tsp water and mix into meat with other ingredients. Stuff firmly into hog casings, forming 6" links. Ferment at 68 degrees for 72 hours with 85% humidity. Dry at 55-60 degrees and 80% humidity for 1-2 months.

What worked: Nice bite from the paprika - not too hot. Also a good tang from the fermenting culture (this was my first attempt).

What didn't: I cold-smoked the chorizo before hanging and it got a bit too warm, rendering out some of the fat and becoming a little gritty. Although storing them in the downstairs fridge seems to have dehydrated them a bit further, making them firmer and less gritty.

Will I make it again? I'd like to try Spanish chorizo again, but I'll probably use a different recipe.
What I'm reading: Neal Stephenson, REAMDE

Comments

[caprine.livejournal.com]

Chori Zo was an ancient Tibetan monk who meditated on sausage.

Well played, sir. My first ROFL of the day and likely to be the best.