ancho chile - photo by gourmetsleuth.com
Ancho Powder
Ancho powder is moderate-heat chile powder made from ancho chiles. You can use this powder in any recipe that calls for chile powder.
Article By: Gourmet Sleuth
In
my kitchen, ancho powder is my "go-to" chile powder favorite. First, make sure to select a pure powder with no
preservatives for best flavor. Although traditionally used in chile
sauces as well as in soups and stews you can find ancho powder in
everything from chocolate truffles (see recipes) to cakes and brownies.
I keep a
1lb canister handy in my cupboard. I use it in my favorite Cajun spice
mixture and I've even added to my Chocolate Espresso Pot de Creme
recipe. If I want to make quick fajitas I just slice some beef very
thin and coat the slices in ancho powder. Then I sauté the coated
slices quickly, add some sliced onions and red or orange bell peppers,
and finish it with a splash of Tequila.
If you can't find ancho powder (or just want to try something else) you can use New Mexico chile powder. The flavor is a bit different but it is a good lower-heat powder. If you like a hotter powder, try guajillo chile powder. If that's not enough heat then you can go with chile de arbol powder which is quite hot. There are even hotter powders but I'll save that topic for another article.
Featured Recipe - Red Chile Sauce
Ingredients1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup finely diced onions
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup Chimayo chile powder
2 cups water
1 round Mexican chocolate - 3 ounces (Ibarra brand)
1/4 cup ground canela (Mexican cinnamon sticks)
1/2 cup ancho powder
salt to taste
Instructions
Sauté
onions and garlic in vegetable oil until tender. heat water (or chicken
stock), add Chimayo chile and ancho powder to dissolve, then add
chocolate and whisk until melted. Add canela and sautéed onions and
garlic. Whisk until mixture thickens. Place sauce on plate and set
baked chile on top.