Some Spicy Numbers From the Meat Market

As much as we crave well-seasoned dishes, facing a recipe with an ingredient list that takes almost as much time to assemble as it takes to cook can be a turn-off. But there is a secret for transforming a lengthy skillet dinner into a quick dish: Use highly flavored meat ingredients.

For example, chorizo, the spicy Mexican sausage with its cumin and hot pepper flakes, adds instant zest to a rice dish. For a garlicky accent, a Polish kielbasa works wonders. Want fennel? Use Italian sausage.

With chorizo and kielbasa as the base, it’s possible to have a hearty entree for two in little more time than it takes to cook a pot of rice.

Kielbasa is sold in one-pound portions, but leftovers can be refrigerated for at least a week. Leftovers will make several more quick meals. Use kielbasa in a scrambled egg dish, in a hot potato salad or in a pasta.

In Hispanic food stores, chorizo can be purchased by the link, which is just the right amount for this recipe. If buying it by the pound, use the remainder in spaghetti sauce or chili or freeze it up to a month.

To accompany Chorizo and Kielbasa Skillet Dinner, prepare a great-tasting warm salad of squash and onions on a bed of spinach.

CHORIZO AND KIELBASA SKILLET DINNER

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 small sweet red pepper, cored, seeded and diced

1 small onion, diced

1/4 pound kielbasa, sliced 1/4-inch thick

1/4 pound chorizo

1 cup converted rice

2 cups chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon crushed dried oregano

Salt

Freshly ground pepper

Heat olive oil in large skillet. Add garlic, sweet red pepper and onion and saute over medium heat until onion is transparent, about 5 minutes. Add kielbasa and chorizo, breaking up chorizo with spoon. Cook over medium heat until meat is browned, about 5 minutes. Pour off any fat.

Add rice, broth and oregano. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer over low heat until rice is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 2 servings.

Note: Chorizo is spicy Mexican uncooked sausage. If unavailable, use hot Italian sausage or double amount of kielbasa and add generous dash of crushed hot red pepper and cumin seeds.