Tapas Tuesday: Fried Bread and Chorizo

One thing I admire about the Spanish kitchen is the frugality. This simple tapa of fried bread and chorizo comes from the same need to thriftily use what one has that led to sopa de ajo. Day old bread is fried in garlic flavored olive oil and served with bite sized pieces of chorizo. It’s surprisingly tasty and hearty, especially served with a glass of wine and a few olives and almonds. I love it for its simplicity.

Does the fried bread remind you of croutons? Well…I guess that’s exactly what they are. They’re fresh croutons. You could cut the bread in smaller pieces and make croutons using this method.

The oil is flavored by the garlic and red pepper flakes. Smash the garlic, but leave it in large pieces. In that way you can easily remove the garlic after it flavors the oil but before it burns.

Ingredients:

• 3 – 4 cups day old bread cut into bite sized pieces, crusts optional
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• pinch red pepper flake (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 ounces chorizo, cut into bite sized pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional, not shown)

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet with the red pepper flakes and garlic.
2. Remove the garlic. Add the bread cubes and stir to coat in the oil.
3. Fry until the bread is nicely colored on each side. Stirring and turning the bread as needed. Season with salt and pepper
4. Add the chorizo and heat it through.
5. Toss with the parsley.
6. Transfer the bread and chorizo to a platter. Serve with toothpicks. Olives and almonds are a nice touch, too.

Fried bread and chorizo is best served warm. If you’ve just eaten chorizo sliced off the sausage, you’ll be surprised at the difference in taste and texture when it is cooked.