How to Grind Chili

Traditionally, chilies were hung up to dry in the sun before being stored or ground into spice.

Grinding your own spices for the kitchen brings fresh flavor to all your favorite dishes. Chili peppers add flavor and heat. Ground chili pepper is used in curries and spice mixes. Rough ground chili pepper flakes add color and flavor to vegetable dishes, pizzas and pastas. Whether you harvest your own, or use store bought dried or fresh chili peppers, grinding your own chili peppers is a cost effective way to make sure your spice cupboard is full of fresh flavor.

Things You'll Need

• Needle
• Thread
• Baking sheet
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Gloves
• Protective eye wear
• Spice grinder or mortar and pestle

Instructions

1. Dry the chili peppers before grinding them. Slice the chili peppers lengthwise and put them on a baking sheet in the oven at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn the chili peppers every five minutes for one to three hours. For a more traditional method, run a needle and thread though the stems of the chili peppers and then hang them up in a dry, warm, sunny place for three to six weeks.

2. Clean the chili peppers in preparation for grinding. Place each pepper onto a cutting board and slice off the top where the stem attaches. Slice each chili pepper in half along the long side and remove the seeds.

3. Rough chop the chili peppers until they are in pieces about 1/4 inch across.

4. Place the chili peppers into a spice grinder. A coffee grinder works well, but use one that is dedicated to spice grinding or all your coffee will taste like chili.

5. Grind the chili pepper into a powder or into small flakes. Wear protective eye wear and grind the chili peppers outdoors. The fine dust can penetrate the air indoors and cause burning eyes and skin.

Tips & Warnings

• For a more traditional method, use a mortar and pestle. Place the chili peppers in the mortar and pound them with the pestle until they break down into a powder.

• Wear gloves when handling chili peppers, and don't touch your eyes.

References

• Paleo Food Collection: Chili Powder
• Gourmet Sleuth: Mortar and Pestle
• Chili Pepper Madness: Reserve Chili Peppers