Various Chiles for Enchilada Sauce
Many enchilada sauce recipes call for the use of various fresh or dried chile peppers. Some people prefer a green chile sauce, while others like to eat a red chile sauce. Choosing the type of chile pepper to use in your own enchilada sauce will depend on the flavor or amount of heat you desire. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Ancho Chile Pepper
-
Ancho chile peppers are approximately three inches wide and four inches long with a deep reddish brown color that appear wrinkled and flat when they have been dried. Known as Poblanos before they have been dried, these chiles are usually sweeter than any other dried chiles and are used commonly in Mexican dishes.
Pasilla Chile Pepper
-
Pasilla chile peppers are dried chilaca peppers that are also known as "little raisins." When fresh, they are also known as chile negro, Mexican negro and pasila bajio. Pasilla chiles are a dark green color when they are still fresh and grow to around eight to 10 inches in length. After they have been dried, they end up a dark brown color and appear shriveled. This chile pepper has a rich and smoky flavor that is commonly combined with seafood, mushrooms and fruits.
-
Chile de Arbol Chile Peppers
-
Chile de Arbol peppers normally grow to around two to three inches long and turn red when they are ready to be harvested. Rat's tail chile and bird's beak chile are two other names this chile is known by. Since these peppers are very hot, they can be used in place of pequin or cayenne peppers in cooking.
Guajillo Chiles
-
The guajillo chile is a dark reddish brown colored chile that is usually mild to moderately hot. Thanks to the thick, leathery skin on this chile, it requires a longer soaking period than other chile peppers. You can use this type of chile pepper in a Mexican red chili sauce that can be used for enchiladas and tamales. Two guajillo chiles are used with two ancho chile peppers, garlic, black peppercorns, olive oil and salt.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
