Linguica Chili

by Bob Sassone, Posted Jan 24th 2007 @ 3:15PM

linguica For those of you not familiar with this Portuguese sausage, it's pronounced Ling-GWEES-a. I was waiting tables in a pizza place about 20 years ago and a tourist asked me what this "Linguicka" was.

It's fantastic in sandwiches and on pizza, but you can also make chili with it. One of the best bowls of chili I've ever had was made with linguica instead of beef. It gives the chili a really nice, different flavor, while remaining hearty. I don't know how this place made it, the exact recipe. I'm sure I could call them up right now and say "hey, give me your recipe," but I don't want to do that, even though they probably remember me coming in there.

I've found a few recipes online for Linguica chili. Here's one from the Gaspar's site:

Linguica and Chourico Chili

1 pound linguica, skinned and chopped
1/2 pound chourico, skinned and chopped
3 green peppers, diced
3 medium onions, diced
1/2 bottle of ketchup

Saute linguica and chourico (often spelled chorizo) in butter. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Hmmm...ketchup? No idea how that would taste. The recipe also says to serve it in a roll, though that's not the way I've had the chili. But it sounds like it's worth a try.

Here's another, from Cooks.com:

Chili

1 pound hot linguica
1 pound hamburger
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 cans (23 oz) ranch style beans
2 (8 oz) cans of tomato sauce
2 pkgs taco seasoning mix
salt and pepper

Cut linguica in slices and brown with hamburger, onions, and garlic. Add salt and pepper. Add tomato sauce, taco seasoning, and beans. Simmer for one hour.

What are "ranch style" beans? The chili I had didn't have taco seasoning mix (that I'm aware of) or hamburger, but this one sounds good too.

And here's another, the Spicy Three Bean Chili. Like all chili, everyone seems to have their own twist on the recipe.

Filed Under: Ingredients, How To
Tags: beef, bowls of chili, chorizo, chourico, comfort food, ketchup, pork, portuguese linguica, PortugueseLinguica, soups, stews, tomato sauce

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-24-2007 @8:00PM RobynT said... I grew up eating "Portuguese Sausage." I think this might be the proper name! I have been subbing kielbasa since I didn't know it had a differnet name! Argh!

I've got a recipe with this sausage posted here: http://halfassfoodie.blogspot.com/2006/12/my-moms-chili.html
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1-25-2007 @2:55AM mamajane said... Ranch-style beans are available in TX & probably several other states. It was originated by the Old El Paso Co. (I think, can't be sure because I don't happen to have a can in my pantry at the moment -- a big oversight!) but has been copied by several other companies. It has distinctive seasonings that can't be found in other beans. My family love it mixed with a can of corn or hominy. We call them Corny-Beans. Been doing this for years!
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1-25-2007 @8:10AM Bruno said... Being Portuguese, it is always nice to hear someone likes "our" products.

Linguiça (pronounced LEENGWEESSA, double S, there), is just a thinner Chouriço (SHOWREESSO), and we usually use it alone (grilled), or sautéed with mushrooms, for example.

I would rather make chilly with Chouriço than Linguiça, really.

To know what to buy, you must know that there are big differences between the region producing the linguiça or chouriço.

The absolute BEST stuff you can buy is chouriço made from black pig (Porco Preto) from Alentejo. This is a special breed of pig, bred in the wild, fed only with nuts (dont know the name, sorry). This pig makes the best smoked ham (you might know it as Pata Negra, from spain), best meat ("secretos" is unbelievable melt in the mouth meat), and the best Chouriços.

I found this online:

http://www.rotidegustation.com/rotidegustation/produtos.asp?fam=*

choose "Carnes Secas e fumadas".

Not sure if they would sell abroad, but they seem to have the good stuff.

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1-25-2007 @9:59AM calamari said... Old El Paso definitely makes ranch-style beans. Bush's "barbecue" and "bold and spicy" flavored baked beans also taste somewhat like the ranch-style beans we've had in restaurants here in Arizona.

While you have the linguica out, try it with pan-fried sweet potatoes. That's an Arizona thing and very good.
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