Cascabel Chiles - Topics Index

Cascabel chilies  [kahs-kah-BEL] (also know as chile bola) means "rattle" and the name refers to the shape of the chile as well as the sound the seeds make when a dried chile is shaken. The cascabel chile is deep red to brownish in color and when mature is about 1 1/2" in diameter.

Cascabels are moderately hot and have a nutty flavor with a rich tannic and slightly smoky nuance.  The chile is grown in many states in Mexico including Coahuila, Durango, Guerrero and Jalisco.

Uses and Product Types
Typically the the chile is toasted on a comal then used in salsas, sauces, soups and stews.

Heat Scale
The cascabel is considered a moderately hot chile or a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the hottest) which allows the chile to be used for flavoring without adding considerable heat to the dish.

How to Buy
Cascabels are available dried whole, powdered and sometimes pureed.  See the where to buy section for purchasing information.

Cascabel Powder
A few spice companies offer a cascabel powder.  This is simply the dried whole chili, ground up into a fine powder.  Use as you would any chili powder for a nutty smoky flavor.

Cascabel Chiles, Whole
The 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.

Cascabel Chili Paste (Puree)
Chiles can be hydrated and blended into a paste. The paste will last for several months refrigerated and stored in a tightly sealed jar. 

 

Where to Buy
GourmetSleuth - we sell whole, dried cascabels and cascabel powder.

Chiliplants.com - Want to grow your own cascabel plants? The best source on the web for plant seedlings.

Other References

Complete List Of Cascabel Recipes - GourmetSleuthOver 30 recipes using the cascabel.

Chili Heat Scale - GourmetSleuth, list of chili peppers, including photographs, and their relative and Scovile heat rating.

How To Roast Chili Peppers - GourmetSleuth, simple instructions for roasting chilies or tomatillos.

Mortar and Pestle (Molcajete) - GourmetSleuth, read about the history of the Molcajete as well as other classic mortar and pestle tools.