Basque chistorra frying sausage

Chistorra – or txistorra in Basque – is a characteristic meat product from the Basque Country and Navarre: a long, thin, semi-cured pork sausage that is fried before consumption. Its vibrant reddish color and distinctive flavor come from Spanish pimentón (ground paprika), complemented by garlic and salt.

The chistorra arriving at Sol Deli comes from the Irura Selección workshop located in the Gipuzkoa province of the Basque Country. The founder of the family business, Iñaki Arregui, was originally involved in pig farming before getting a closer look at the craft of charcuterie in France. After returning home, he began making his own meat products; Irura has been working with traditional recipes, fresh ingredients, and natural components since 1983. The family business has been managed by Aitor Arregui since 2017.

Chistorra is a particularly important product for them: Irura refers to it as a fundamental part of their identity. It is made from fresh pork, paprika, salt, and garlic, and then filled into a natural lamb casing.
It contains no artificial coloring or preservatives, and it is gluten-free and lactose-free.

Chistorra is not a dry salami or chorizo meant to be eaten sliced: it must be fried before consumption. Thanks to its thin diameter, it cooks quickly: it browns beautifully in a pan or on the grill in just a few minutes while remaining juicy on the inside. You can fry the long strand whole, coiled up, or simply cut it into shorter pieces.

In the Basque Country and Navarre, it is often served quite simply with bread as a pintxo or tapas-style. It goes great with fried potatoes and eggs, grilled vegetables, or in a sandwich. It also stands on its own without any extra garnish alongside a glass of red wine or a cold lager.

A single strand of chistorra is surprisingly substantial: when straightened out, it is nearly one meter long. The sausages are available in vacuum-packed strands of approx. 300 grams.

Try our chistorra in red wine recipe, which you can find under the "Recipes" menu item, or by clicking HERE.