Chipotle Chiles in Adobo Sauce vs Chipotle Powder

Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce vs chipotle powder from the spice aisle, they're different and both worth keeping in your pantry. But, if I could only pick one it would be the canned chiles in adobo sauce. If you haven't tried them, you're in for a culinary adventure.

Did you know the ‘t’ in chipotle is silent? I didn’t. For years I read that word in cookbooks, hunted down those chiles in specialty food shops and pronounced the ‘t’. Fortunately one does not need to know how to pronounce any food word to cook with it or eat it.

Gluten free cooks who want to make "all the things" need chipotle chiles. The cans are smoked jalapeños in a vinegar-based tomato sauce called adobo. They have the perfect balance of smokiness and acidity.

Chipotle mayo with sweet potato fries are what took chipotle chiles mainstream. If you haven't had a homemade version made with egg yolks and oil, then you have been missing out!

What Are Chipotle Chiles

Chipotle chiles are smoked jalapeños. They can be found in the spice aisle as whole dried chiles or ground into chipotle powder.

Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are sold in small tins containing six to eight chile peppers in sauce. Many brands are gluten free but read the ingredient list, some list wheat for reasons we will never understand.

La Costena brand chipotle chiles in adobo sauce is gluten free (at the time of writing).

How To Use Chipotles

Recipes sometimes call for just one chipotles, one chile with sauce and some recipes even call for adobo sauce only. After using chipotle chiles and messing around with many ways to store them I realized they are always going to get pureed. My method of dealing with them now is to puree the whole can as soon as I open it. The amount is slightly less than one cup so I put it into a one-cup Mason jar and label it. With good cross contamination practices (always use a clean spoon) the chiles will keep in the fridge for months.

One chipotle chile is equivalent to approximately 1½ or 2 teaspoons. Depending on how much heat you like you can adjust this to your own taste. If you want to remind yourself how to use the puree then label the measurement right to the jar.

I get teased about my label maker but I love it. When I first starting learning about gluten free I added a second label to several things to help me learn. I think a label maker is an excellent purchase to stay organized and keep learning in your kitchen.

This specialty item can be found in Mexican and Latin American specialty shops but can sometimes be found with other Mexican ingredients in well-stocked grocery stores. Of course you can order them on Amazon too.

Chipotle Powder vs Chili Powder

Chipotle chiles are also sold dried, either whole or ground. You can find them in bottles is the spice aisle at many grocery stores. The bottle should contain pure ground chipotle chiles so would be naturally gluten free.

Chiles are a big topic and can be confusing with so many different types. For this post the message is that chili powder, the kind you might use to make a pot of chili, is not the same as chipotle chile powder. Growing up we ate a lot of chili. For us this was a one-pot meal of meat and beans. My grandmother called it chili con carne meaning chili with meat. In this case the word chili refers to both the spice and the dish itself. This type of chili powder is often a combination of different spices and I do not know what type of chile it might contain. Regardless, it is neither hot nor smoky but it is right there in the spice aisle. Know what you are looking for before you go shopping.

I have never bought the whole dried chiles but I do have ground chipotle powder in my spice cupboard. It can be used like any dry spice. Add it to a dry rub or in a marinade, anywhere you want to add the unique taste of chipotle chile peppers.

What About Chipotle Mayo?

Homemade mayo is silky smooth and with the addition of these smoky jalapeno peppers it is divine. If you like mayonnaise then you must make homemade chipotle mayo.

Real mayonnaise is the result of a magic process combining egg yolks with oil. It's simple to make using a hand blender or food processor. The basic recipe can be flavoured with roasted garlic, roasted red peppers, chipotle chile peppers or anything you've read on a restaurant menu or seen on food shows.

If you're looking for a fun Friday night project with a friend, make regular or sweet potato fries and homemade chipotle chile mayo. Put your mayo in a squeeze bottle and watch it disappear.

Recipes Using Chipotle Chiles

• Avocado Chipotle Sauce can be used like guacamole but don't limit yourself.
• It would not be summer without this Grilled Shrimp Martini, preferably served on a dock!
• Grilled Flank Steak with Chipotle Honey Sauce is on my list as soon as BBQ season begins.
• In the winter the aroma in the kitchen from these Braised Short Ribs in Coffee Ancho Chile Sauce is worth the effort!
• Add some chipotle powder or puree to the dressing for this Southwestern Quinoa Salad. If you've got chipotle mayo in a squeeze bottle them squeeze away!
• Chipotle powder or the puree will add some kick to any homemade chili recipe.
• My Corn with Feta and Lime starts by slathering a spicy mayo on the hot cobs of corn. Substitute chipotle powder in this recipe to add both heat and smoke. Be sure to include the feta and lime for the best corn dish you will make this summer!
• After corn with feta and lime, try Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chipotle Butter because you've got to make all the recipes while corn is at it's peak.
• Add some zip to my basic cornbread recipe with the addition of grated cheddar cheese and a blob of pureed chipotle chiles in adobo sauce.