A classic tapa that’s challenging only to the extent that it’s hard to find good chorizo; it should not be too well dried but rather fresh and soft. Plenty is being made in the States now, especially in Florida, California, and New York—the major centers of Latin cuisine. Since chorizo is so intensely flavored already, it takes few ingredients to make this dish, but it’s still pretty powerful. In northwestern Spain they make this with the local sidra Asturiana, or hard cider; to try it that way, omit the garlic and parsley and substitute hard cider (English, French, or American hard cider is fine) for the red wine.

　　

Ingredients

makes 6 to 8 servings

　　1 pound dried chorizo, thinly sliced

　　1 cup dry red wine

　　2 tablespoons minced garlic

　　Salt and black pepper to taste

　　Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Put the chorizo in an ovenproof skillet and turn the heat to high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it is nicely browned, about 10 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid burning the meat.

　　

Step 2

Stir in the wine and garlic and transfer the skillet to the oven. Cook, more or less undisturbed, until about half the liquid has evaporated and what’s left is dark and thick, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. Garnish with parsley and serve very hot, with toothpicks or pieces of bread. Or prepare the dish an hour or two ahead and reheat it.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.