10 Types of sausages and their composition 

Being a dish that is deeply rooted in our kitchen, the different types of sausages are often consumed, because they are very practical to eat and take away… Especially in sandwiches! Although they are also a fundamental ingredient when it comes to cooking, they enrich and add flavor to different dishes of Spanish gastronomy such as lentils with chorizo or baked rice, among many others.

Classification of types of sausages

We understand as sausages, those meat products prepared from a mixture of minced meat, condiments and spices that are introduced in natural or artificial casings.

Nowadays, this definition is broader, since meat products of animal origin are also understood as types of sausages, which may not be inserted in casings and may or may not be subjected to a curing process.

In each region the types of sausages vary according to the origin of the meat, the condiments that are added, the material and the techniques used, so the different types of sausages can be classified into two large groups:

Fresh sausages

Those types of sausages that are made raw, without curing or maturing, such as blood sausages; raw sausages, blanquet or chorizo, among others.

Difference between black pudding and chorizo:

• Black pudding: this type of black or brownish sausage is made with pig blood and fat, although depending on the region in which it is made, blood sausage has its own version and varies in the ingredients of its composition. Although there are several types of blood sausage, the best known is the one made in Castilla y León, the Burgos blood sausage. This sausage is made from pig blood, fat and rice. Due to its importance in Spanish gastronomy, Burgos black pudding received in 2018, from the European Union, the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).
• Chorizo: this type of sausage is one of the most popular in Spanish cuisine. It is made from minced pork marinated with different types of spices, such as paprika, which gives it that reddish color and gives it that spicy touch.

In our gastronomy, both cold meats are often mixed, giving rise to the chorizo sausage... Quite a delicacy!

Processed sausages

Those types of sausages that are made and to which, subsequently, cooking, curing, fermentation and/or smoking processes are applied, such as, for example, ham; cooked ham; the stuffed loin; the salami; espetec fuet; salami and sobrassada, among many others.

Difference between cured ham and cooked ham

• Cured ham: this is the product obtained from the hind legs of the pig, salted raw and naturally cured. It is a typical product of Spanish gastronomy and, depending on the type of pig and its diet, we can distinguish between various types of ham, such as Serrano ham and Iberian ham.
• Cooked ham: also known as York ham or sweet ham. This type of sausage is made by boiling the pork meat and subjecting it to a subsequent salting process, which allows the meat to be consumed fresh, but eliminating the risk of bacteria.

Main types of sausages and recipes

Although the types of sausages are included in two large groups, they can also be classified depending on their composition, so that, among the main types of sausages, we can find the following:

 Blood sausages: are those types of sausages, whose base of preparation is from the blood of the animal, the best known is blood sausage. Different types of blood sausage are made in Spain, depending on the region in which they are prepared. The best known types of blood sausage are the blood sausage from Burgos; blood sausage made with onion and blood sausage made with rice.

In what dishes can we find this type of sausage?

• Christmas stew

• Rice in fesols and naps

 Meat sausages: are those types of sausages most common and consumed by all, since, mainly, their composition derives from the meat of the animal. Among them we can mention the salchichón, the chorizo or the chistorra, among many others.

In what dishes can we find this type of sausage?

• Skewers and tapas

• Snacks

Sausages made with casings: are those types of sausages, for whose elaboration the entrails of the animal are used. Among them we can mention the sausage and longaniza, among many others.

In what dishes can we find this type of sausage?

• Baked rice

• Easter Sausage

Cold cuts: this type of cold cuts consists of a very wide range, since the term cold cuts is used to name animal meat that, after being processed, cured or cooked, can be kept for a long time in cold. Among this type of sausage, we can find different types of ham, ham, mortadella, sausage, salami, pastrami, among many others.

In what dishes can we find this type of sausage?

• Ham table

• Artichokes with ham and egg

• Parmesan cheese and Iberian ham timbale

• Pastrami Sandwich