How to Use Chipotle Peppers

A chipotle pepper is a smoked jalapeno.

Chipotle peppers are a currently a popular ingredient in the cooking industry that appears in many commercial sauces, dips and fast foods. In reality, chipotle is a jalapeno pepper that has been dried to a length of between 2 and 4 inches and a dull, tan color. Chipotle pepper offers a smokey flavor, medium heat and gives a nice kick to a variety of different dishes. You can find chipotle peppers at some grocery stores, or at bulk stores and specialty Mexican stores.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Chipotle peppers
• Chipotle powder
• Chipotle sauce
• Chipotle paste
• Vegetable oil
• Cheesecloth

Instructions

Chipotle Peppers

1. Slice whole chipotle peppers into thin strips or dice them and add to stews, soups, sauces or casseroles. Leave the seeds out if you want less heat, or toss them in, with the pepper if you want it added spice. The true heat from the pepper is found in the seed area.

2. Reconstitute your chipotle peppers by placing them in a bowl and pouring bowling water over top. Let them soak for a few minutes, then take them out of the water and use as you would a fresh jalapeno.

3. Add a whole chipotle pepper to a chili, stew or soup and let it cook along with the other ingredients, to give off some heat and flavor. Remove the pepper before you are ready to serve. Poke some holes in the pepper with a knife before you add it to give off some extra heat, and place it atop the plated meal.

More Chipotle Applications

1. Add chipotle powder to chili, fajita mix or any other southwestern food that you would normally use chili powder in.

2. Spoon chipotle sauce onto a taco or other Mexican dish, or into a pasta sauce or pizza sauce for some added kick.

3. Spoon chipotle sauce onto a taco or other Mexican dish, or into a pasta sauce or pizza sauce for some added kick.

4. Rub chipotle paste onto the surface of chicken or beef before you grill or bake the meat. Allow it to sit for an hour or two in the refrigerator, so it has a chance to penetrate into the flesh which supplies added flavor to the meat.

5. Make a chipotle oil with crumbled peppers and vegetable oil to add to salads or for cooking to impart extra spice in your food. Add ½ cup of oil and two crumbled peppers in a metal bowl and place in a 300 degree F oven for one hour. Cool for 30 minutes and then strain the oil through cheesecloth and refrigerate.

References

• Gourmet Sleuth: Chipotle Chilis
• Epicurious; Chipotle Pepper Oil; September, 1994
• Quetzal Farm: Chiles / Peppers