While the concept of sausage is simple, thousands of variations can be found throughout the world. Sausages can be fresh, cured, smoked, or cooked. They are made of beef, pork, veal, chicken, and more. And they can include myriad ingredients, from spices and herbs to fruits, vegetables, and cheeses—and even liquids such as beer, whiskey, or blood. Our “Sausage in Profile” series aims to introduce you to different types of sausage—their flavor profiles, histories, and uses—from familiar favorites to unique finds.
Linguica is a cured pork sausage that’s a second cousin to chorizo, the fiery Spanish sausage. Its flavor is shaped by liberal amounts of chile, red wine vinegar, and paprika.
According to Jean Anderson, author of Food of Portugal, the name of this sausage derives from the Portuguese word for tongue—língua—not because it contains tongue, but for its long, slender, red, tongue-like appearance.

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