Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Brown the chorizo
- Cook the chorizo in a large pot over medium heat until browned and fat is rendered, about 6-8 minutes. Visual cue: the fat will look glossy and the chorizo crumbles will be browned.
- Remove the browned chorizo to a bowl or plate and set aside. Keep the rendered fat in the pot.
Sauté aromatics and toast spices
- Sauté the onion and red bell pepper in the chorizo fat over medium heat for 4-5 minutes. Visual cue: the onion softens and the pepper edges begin to look slightly translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Visual cue: fragrant garlic without browning.
- Stir in the smoked paprika, cumin, and cayenne and cook for 1 minute. Visual cue: spices darken slightly and become fragrant.
Simmer and thicken
- Add the chicken broth and cubed Yukon gold potatoes, then bring to a simmer. Visual cue: small bubbles around the potatoes start to form consistently.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender. Visual cue: a fork slides into a potato cube with little resistance.
- Mash some of the potatoes in the pot to thicken the soup. Visual cue: the liquid becomes creamy and slightly thicker without fully turning smooth.
- Stir in the heavy cream until the soup looks uniformly creamy. Visual cue: the color turns a rich orange-red and the texture smooths out.
Finish and serve
- Return the cooked chorizo to the pot. Stir to distribute it evenly through the soup.
- Simmer for 5 minutes to heat the chorizo through. Visual cue: gentle bubbling and the soup looks cohesive.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Visual cue: the flavor is balanced and the smoke-spice notes come through.
- Serve hot with sour cream and fresh parsley on top. Visual cue: a swirl of sour cream and a light parsley garnish.
Notes
For a thicker, restaurant-style bowl, mash more of the potatoes after the 20-minute simmer and keep the heat at a gentle simmer when adding the cream. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days; reheat gently on the stove, adding a splash of broth if needed. Freezing is not recommended because the cream can separate when thawed. If you want a lighter option, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and warm without boiling.
