This tasty Spanish chorizo sandwich is packed with bright colors and flavors, with arugula, piquillo peppers and manchego cheese. It's quick to make and thoroughly delicious. A perfect quick lunch!
![This tasty Spanish chorizo sandwich is packed with bright colors and flavors, with arugula, piquillo peppers and manchego cheese. It's quick to make and thoroughly delicious. A perfect quick lunch! two halves of Spanish chorizo sandwich stacked on top of each other](jpg/spanish-chorizo-sandwich-photo.jpg)
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My husband and I have been making variations on this sandwich for a number of years. In London, we would always have the basic ingredients on hand (even if we might sometimes skip the peppers or switch out the cheese).
I think it's partly due to my time in Spain and affinity for Spanish cooking (in case some of the many recipes here like Catalan fish stew, Spanish chickpeas and spinach, simple Spanish tapas romesco sauce and patatas bravas didn't give it away, to name a few). But also, this is just so easy and delicious.
![This tasty Spanish chorizo sandwich is packed with bright colors and flavors, with arugula, piquillo peppers and manchego cheese. It's quick to make and thoroughly delicious. A perfect quick lunch! Spanish chorizo sandwich from side](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Spanish-chorizo-sandwich-side-picture-close.jpg)
While this isn't exactly a truly authentic Spanish sandwich, sandwiches - bocadillos - are something you will find available a lot in Spain. They tend to be relatively simple, such as slices of Spanish tortilla or ham in a baguette-like roll. Greens are less common. But the flavors here work so well together, and it's still really quick and easy.
Spanish versus Mexican chorizo
It can be a little confusing when it comes to cooking (not to mention some other things) that Castillian Spanish (ie from Spain) and Mexican Spanish can use the same word but mean different things. In many cases, it is an idea taken from one country to the other and adapted locally. Chorizo is a perfect example.
Both are typically pork and have a red color to them due to the seasoning, but that's about where it ends. Mexican is nearly always fresh and uses ground meat while Spanish is more often cured and the meat is chopped.
The color and flavor in the Spanish sausage comes from smoked paprika (pimentón) and often garlic while Mexican uses chili and vinegar (by the way try my chorizo torta for a Mexican-style chorizo sandwich) .
![filling Spanish chorizo sandwich open bread roll with fillings stacked on one side](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/filling-Spanish-chorizo-sandwich.jpg)
What type of chorizo and cheese are best?
It won't matter if you use a spicy chorizo or mild chorizo for this - use whichever you prefer. However it is worth slicing a whole sausage rather than using ready-sliced. Pre-sliced pieces are generally too thin to crisp up in the pan properly. Also I'd recommend a firmer, cured or semi-cured rather than cooking chorizo as you are just gently rendering and crisping rather than giving it a longer cook.
On cheese, I'd recommend you use a good, fairly robust-flavored hard cheese. To be as Spanish as possible, go for a Manchego or other good Spanish sheep's milk cheese. But I have also made this with a smoked cheddar or aged cheddar and it was equally tasty.
I have given quantities that roughly work together, but realistically the amount of each will depend on the size of the bread you use and will be a little to taste. It's a good excuse to make it again to get it more to your taste if you think you need to change the proportions!
It might seem a bit odd to use the oil from the pan in the sandwich, but it has such a great flavor, it would be wrong to waste it. And if you don't like the idea of adding fat, just think you would have been eating it anyway if you hadn't rendered it from the chorizo in the first place. Once you start eating, you'll soon forget.
![This tasty Spanish chorizo sandwich is packed with bright colors and flavors, with arugula, piquillo peppers and manchego cheese. It's quick to make and thoroughly delicious. A perfect quick lunch! two halves of sandwich stacked on top of each other close up](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Spanish-chorizo-sandwich-close-pic.jpg)
The flavors and textures in this Spanish chorizo sandwich go so well together that each bite is a delicious mix. The chorizo is nicely crisp, the arugula/rocket crunchy, the cheese smooth and the piquillo peppers gently squidgy (in a good way). Give it a try and it will become one of your favorites too.
Try these other tasty sandwiches:
- Caprese focaccia sandwich
- Danish smørrebrød, open sandwiches
- Eggplant spinach grilled cheese sandwich
- "Jamin' Jamaican" chicken grilled cheese (with a quick mango jam and jerk spices)
- Seared tuna sandwich with Asian slaw
- Plus get more lunch recipes in the archives.
Spanish chorizo sandwich
Ingredients
- 6 slices Spanish chorizo approx
- 1 roasted piquillo pepper (jarred)
- 1 bread roll (see notes)
- 1 oz manchego cheese approx, or other flavorful hard cheese
- 1 handful arugula rocket
Instructions
- Warm a small skillet/frying pan over a medium heat but don't add in any oil.
- Cut the piquillo peppers into slices, slice the cheese and open the bread roll through the middle.
- Place the chorizo slices in the pan and allow to crisp and brown slightly for around a minute or two then turn over. Cook on the other side another minute until crisp.
- Remove the chorizo from the pan but don't throw away the oil that has rendered. Carefully pour some or all of the chorizo oil into the inside of the bread - you can rub the inside of the bread right in the pan if there's not too much oil and it fits.
- Put a handful of arugula/rocket in each pitta then layer the piquillo pepper slices on top in each, followed by the cheese and chorizo slices.
- Serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
This recipe was originally shared in February 2015 and has been updated, primarily with new photos and additional information.
Remember to pin for later!
![This tasty Spanish chorizo sandwich is packed with bright colors and flavors, with arugula, piquillo peppers and manchego cheese. It's quick to make and thoroughly delicious. A perfect quick lunch! This tasty Spanish chorizo sandwich is packed with bright colors and flavors, with arugula, piquillo peppers and manchego cheese. It's quick to make and thoroughly delicious. A perfect quick lunch!](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Spanish-chorizo-sandwich-pin.jpg)
Ramona
Absolutely delicious! Chorizo is an absolute winner every time. A great idea for a superb sandwich 😋
Caroline's Cooking
Thank you, we're big chorizo fans too and it makes such a great sandwich.
Susan
Mmmmmm! I love chorizo but have never made it into a sandwich. Must be delicious! My family will LOVE this!
Caroline's Cooking
It really is so tasty, enjoy!
Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons
I'm going to have to search out the Spanish chorizo. I'm mostly familiar with the Mexican one and it is very fatty. This looks wonderful and I love "instant" refrig meals that are much more than the sum of their parts.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Liz, yes the Spanish, Mexican (and Portuguese chorico) are all a little bit different! I hope you find it and enjoy this.
Judi Graber
Very simple sandwich using a favorite sausage. I usually use it as an ingredient in a breakfast dish or I even mixed it in when I made some burgers last year. Spicy and yummy 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Judi. Yes chorizo is so versatile - I sometimes add it to bolognese sauce too.
Julie @ HostessAtHeart
This sandwich looks so delicious. I love all of the flavors that you've combined, and all of the colors definitely makes me want one.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Julie, yes the colors are great as well as all the flavors. An added bonus!
Amanda
YUM!! I love the idea of drizzling some of the rendered chorizo fat onto the pita... I can just imagine all the great flavor that adds 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Amanda. It is great, and you have that lovely color as well (though the yummy taste is the main thing!)
Hilda
I just happen to have some chorizo in the fridge, I am going to make myself this sandwich - simple but never had it this way before. Thanks.
Caroline's Cooking
How fortunate! I hope you enjoy it, Hilda. Sometimes simple is best.
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake
I love chorizo and this sandwich looks amaaazing!!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Michelle, yes chorizo is so delicious and this is a great way to enjoy it!