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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. Make sure to select a pure powder
with no preservatives for best flavor.
Ancho powder has traditionally been used in chile sauces as well
as in soups and stews but today you can find it in everything from
chocolate truffles (see recipes) to cakes and brownies.
How I Use Ancho
In my kitchen, ancho powder is my "go-to" chile powder favorite. 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. |
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The images displayed above include (1)ancho
chile powder, (2)a dried ancho chile, and
(3)the green poblano which is the ancho chile in its fresh form.
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Need a Substitute? |
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. |
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Featured Recipe - Red Chile Sauce |
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N G R E D I E N T S |
1/4 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 |
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I N S T R U C T I O N S |
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. |
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More About Ancho Chiles
whole ancho dried chile - photo by
gourmetsleuth.com
Whole dried ancho chiles. Ancho means "wide" in Spanish and is actually a
dried poblano pepper. The ancho is part of the "holy trinity" of chiles used
in mole sauces.
Buy Ancho Powder
Available at GourmetSleuth.com
2.7 oz - clear top reusable tin
1lb - bulk bag
5lb - bulk bag
Recipes That Feature Ancho Powder
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Ancho Cinnamon Truffles
Gourmetsleuth - Union Square Grill's recipe for Ancho Cinnamon Truffles; rich velvety ganache rolled in ancho powder mixed with cocoa powder.
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Pescado Borrachos (Drunken Fish)
Recipe for Pescado Borrachos (Drunken Fish) Snapper filets simmered in garlic, epazote, tomatoes, ancho chile powder, wine, and capers. By the Epicentre.com
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Southwestern-Style Pork Chops with Ancho Chile Powder
Lobels - Recipe for Southwestern-Style Pork Chops with Ancho Chile Powder
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Stuffed Green Chile and a Red Chile Sauce
Recipes for a Stuffed Green Chile and a Red Chile Sauce, chiles stuffed with nuts and cheese, sauce made with garlic, chili powder, chocolate, ground canela, and ancho powder .
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