guajillo chiles: photo by gourmetsleuth
Guajillo chilies
pronounced [gwah-HEE-yoh] are thick, leathery dark reddish brown chiles that contain mild to moderate amounts of heat. The guajillo is one of the most commonly grown chiles in Mexico. This chile requires a longer soaking period than most due to its leathery skin.
Article by: Barbara Bowman
Related Videos Uses for Guajillo and Product Types
The guajillo benefits from toasting on a comal or other hot pan prior to use. Use this chile in salsas, sauces, soups and stews. Guajillo chiles are also used to make Harissa, a hot chile paste mixture used in Tunisian cooking.
Heat ScaleThe guajillo is considered a moderately hot chile or a 2 - 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the hottest).
How to BuyGuajillo are available most commonly dried whole, then powdered and sometimes paste. Beware of paste products. Read the label. Many contain extensive amounts of preservatives, artificial colorings and ingredients and the flavor is dreadful. Make your own paste (see recipes). See the where to buy section for purchasing information.
Guajillo PowderA few spice companies offer a guajillo powder. This is simply the dried whole chili, ground up into a fine powder. Use in recipes that call for guajillos and you don't want to take the time to use dried whole chiles.
Guajillo Chiles, Whole DriedThe most commonly sold form of this chile is whole, dried. The chile can be toasted then ground, or hydrated and made it a sauce or paste.
Guajillo Chili Paste (Puree)
We have not found a guajillo paste that this worth buying. We suggest you make your own. The paste is not hard to make and stores well, refrigerated. See recipe
Preparing Dried Chiles For Use
If you are going to toast the chiles before you use them you can first wipe them with a moist towel to remove any dust or visible soil.
If you are going to soak them and blend them before use then simply tear them open; remove the stem, seeds and as much of the veins as possible. It easy to do this under running water which rinses the chiles at the same time.
Tear the chiles in pieces and place in a bowl. They are now ready for soaking.