Pasilla chile powder

Pasilla chile powder is made from dried, pasilla negro chiles which are trimmed and ground. When whole, pasilla negro chiles are a a long, slender, dark, almost black in color. The chiles have an earthy flavor and are used in mole sauce as well as other Mexican sauces and stews. In California the ancho chile is called pasilla and pasilla negro chiles are just referred to as "negro" chiles.

If you don't have pasilla negro powder you can substitute:

• One whole negro chile which has been soaked in warm water for about 30 minutes, then pureed per tablespoon of pasilla negro powder called for.
• OR - use equal amounts of guajillo powder.