This One Mexican Ingredient Can Transform Basic Scrambled Eggs

Having eggs in the morning is a traditional American way to start the day, whether fried, scrambled, paired with bacon, tucked inside a breakfast sandwich, or as a brunch Benedict, to name just a few. They're often also a part of breakfast in Mexico, where a popular morning dish gives scrambled eggs a glow-up with classic Mexican sausage chorizo.

The spicy uncooked sausage is usually made with pork, although it can be made with beef, chicken, or even soy. That's the biggest difference from Spanish chorizo, which is dry-cured and can be eaten as-is. It's one of many types of meat good for a charcuterie board. The Mexican version was developed from Spanish explorers who took their food to the Americas in the 1500s. The sausage changed over time to incorporate native products and preferred flavors.

Mexican chorizo gains a reddish color from dried chili peppers, like ancho, chipotle, and guajillo, which are mixed with pork, giving it heat, and has a tanginess from added vinegar. It also contains garlic and other spices, like oregano, cumin, thyme, and paprika. The sausage meat is usually taken out of the casing to be cooked, becoming crumbled like ground beef. Adding it to a scramble to make huevos con chorizo (eggs with chorizo) brings bold flavor with a kick to egg's subtler taste. That can be amplified even more by cooking them in some of the meat's rendered fat instead of just butter or oil, as they'll absorb some of the chorizo's spicy goodness. Chorizo crumbles also create a textural contrast to silky eggs.

Chorizo scrambled eggs can be enhanced with other complementary ingredients for even more flavor, like jalapeños and shredded cheese. Mexican cuisine guru Rick Bayless likes including onions and roasted poblanos, and said people sometimes use tomatoes and green chilis (via YouTube). He sprinkles fresh cilantro on the finished dish and serves it in warm tortillas. Chef Nigella Lawson elevates a scramble with the Mexican-style touch of mixing in fried corn tortilla strips, which would also be a great fit here. Salsa, sliced avocado, and refried beans are among some possible sides, and can be used with the amped-up eggs in breakfast burritos or tacos, too.

Two chorizo brands sold in the U.S. that are top Walmart bestsellers and have excellent customer ratings are Cacique and V&V Supremo. They were also named as the best brands on Reddit, where one person wrote, "Cacique pork chorizo is my favorite. I used to make my own, but I actually like this nearly as much." Another said, "We like Supremo ... tastes similar to any chorizo I've had in Mexico and restaurants here." You could also get authentic chorizo from a Mexican food store or try making fresh homemade Mexican chorizo.