What is it?

Chipotles are dried, smokedjalapeños; they have a sweet, smoky flavor.

Don’t have it?

Chipotle chile powder can substitue for whole chiles in some recipes as well as cannedchipotle in adobo, rinsed of the adobo sauce.

How to choose:

The best dried chiles are the ones that have been sun-dried and not commercially oven-dried, which can make them bitter. Look for whole, not broken pods, with a uniform color. They should be be tough but still a little flexible.

How to prep:

Pull off or cut off the stems and dump out the seeds. Dried chiles can be crumbled or ground and added right to a dish. Or toast them lightly in a little hot oil to intensify their flavor. If puréeing dried chiles for sauce, rehydrate them first by soaking them (toasted or untoasted) in boiling water for a half hour or so.

How to store:

干辣椒会使好几个月在阴凉干燥place, though they may become more brittle over time.

Cross Reference

chipotles in adobo; jalapeños.

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Recipes

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  Recipe

  Tex-Mex Beer-Can Chicken

  A chile-packed spice rub and mesquite smoke lend a Southwestern accent to this ultra-juicy chicken. You can use either a gas or charcoal grill, but charcoal will produce a smokier…

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  Recipe

  Maple and Chipotle Broiler-Barbecued Chicken Thighs

  When it's too cold to grill outside, you can mimic the flavor of barbecued chicken with your oven broiler. Between the smoky spice rub and the sweet-hot barbecue sauce, you'll…

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  Recipe

  Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Chili with Fresh Salsa

  Personally, I’m not so fond of “vegetable” chilis, as they seem to feature overcooked and watery veggies that were never meant to be “stewed.” So in warmer weather, I top…

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  Recipe

  Chicken Tostadas with Black Beans and Cilantro-Lime Cream

  These fresh, crunchy, colorful tostadas are the perfect showcase for shredded leftover white meat from Citrus-Marinated Roasted Chicken, which is gently and briefly reheated with a bit of the pan…

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  Recipe

  Blackberry Fool

  A fool is a simple dessert made with puréed fruit and sweetened whipped cream. Here, a chipotle chile adds a subtle spicy note that enhances the sweetness of the berries.

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  Recipe

  Grilled Watermelon Salsa with Spicy Lime Tortilla Chips

  Grilling enhances watermelon’s natural sweetness and gives it a smoky flavor that pairs nicely with the spicy kick of chipotle in this bright salsa.

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  Recipe

  Chili Con Carne

  Too much salt isn't good for you, but too little makes for a bland meal. This robust Chili Con Carne strikes the right balance. With high-impact flavor elements—pure ground chile, freshly toasted…

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  Recipe

  Spicy Chipotle Shrimp, Avocado and Corn Fajitas

  Arrange the fajitas and fixings on a buffet table, bar style, for casual entertaining, or serve the components on various platters at the table.

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  Recipe

  Spicy Grilled Corn Salad with Black Beans and Queso Fresco

  Queso fresco, a mild white cheese popular in Latin American cuisines, has a feta-like texture and flavor that pairs well with the starchy corn and beans in this recipe.