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Chorizo Santarrosano

Antioquia’s famous red chorizo — pork sausage marinated in vinegar and annatto, grilled until juicy and charred.

⏱ 30 minPrep time
🔥 25 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 Colombian KitchenCategory
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Chorizo Santarrosano

Chorizo santarrosano comes from Santa Rosa de Osos in Antioquia, where butchers have made this vivid red sausage for generations. Marinated overnight in vinegar and annatto, then grilled over coals, it is the star of chorizo stands across Colombia.

The red sausage of Santa Rosa

The annatto gives the chorizo its brilliant color and a gentle, earthy warmth, while vinegar and garlic keep it bright and savory. Grilled until the casing snaps, it is juicy, smoky, and perfect on a warm arepa with a squeeze of lime.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Grind the pork and fatback through a medium die (or ask your butcher to do it).
  2. Mix the ground meat with the achiote, garlic, cumin, vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar; knead 2 minutes, cover, and marinate overnight in the fridge.
  3. Stuff the mixture into the casings, twisting into 6-inch links.
  4. Prick each link a few times and refrigerate until ready to cook.
  5. Cook over medium heat in a skillet or on a grill for 12 to 15 minutes, turning often, until browned and cooked through.
  6. Rest 5 minutes, then slice.
  7. Serve with arepas, hogao, and lime.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The overnight marinade is non-negotiable — it is what makes santarrosano taste like itself. Cooked links keep 3 days refrigerated or 2 months frozen; reheat gently on the grill or in a skillet.

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Recipe details

Prep30 min
Cook25 min
Servings8
CategoryColombian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →