The seasoning in Mexican cuisine: the chipotle pepper

A little kick is indispensable in Mexican cuisine. Sharp salsas, hot sauces, boldly seasoned meat; all characteristic of authentic dishes from Mexico. How they add that heat to these dishes is by using all kinds of peppers during cooking. And the most well-known of these might be the chipotle pepper. That's the pepper we want to talk about today. Despite its pronounced flavor, it is still often unclear what exactly a chipotle pepper is and what you can do with it, which is what we want to change with this blog. 

So first we'll explain exactly what a chipotle pepper is. Then we'll tell you what you can do with it and afterwards we'll give a number of delicious authentic recipes made with chipotle peppers. Ready to dive into the world of the chipotle pepper? Let's begin! 

Something many people think is that the chipotle pepper is a pepper variety, but that's not the case. A chipotle pepper is the smoked variant of the jalapeño pepper. Chipotle peppers are made by drying fully ripe, red jalapeños by smoking them. When they are completely dried, they retain about 10% of their moisture, after which the jalapeño may officially be called a chipotle. The jalapeños you can buy in the store are almost always green; this is the stage before the jalapeños turn red. And when they are red, they are almost always used to make chipotle peppers. 

This method of smoke-drying jalapeños was used in ancient Mesoamerica to preserve the peppers longer. The name 'chipotle' therefore comes from old Nahuatl, an indigenous language from Mesoamerica, in which chipotle literally means 'smoked pepper'. (Perhaps a fun fact to mention at the dinner table!) The most likely scenario is that when Columbus reached America, he brought the chipotle pepper back to Europe, after which the chipotle pepper spread to the rest of the world. 

And another fun fact: the jalapeño (which, as you now know, also includes the chipotle) is the most used pepper in Mexican cuisine. In Mexico, on average about 7 to 9 kilos(!) of jalapeños are eaten per person per year! 

But what can you do with a chipotle pepper? Good question. The chipotle can be bought and used in many forms. You can find chipotle powder (which you can also find in our assortment!), chipotle flakes, chipotle peppers, but also canned chipotles in adobo sauce nowadays in many stores. 

Compared to other peppers, chipotles are fairly mild, allowing them to add a pleasant heat to many dishes. You can often find them in salsas, in sauces, and they are often used in marinades. When you make a marinade with chipotle, it is called an adobo marinade.

Chipotle peppers have a spicy and characteristic smoky flavor. The flesh of the pepper is quite thick, which is why this pepper is best stewed rather than used raw, although you do see them in some salsas. To show how you can use them, we have provided three delicious recipes for you below!

Let's start with a chicken dish that uses chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. As you now know, this means the chicken will be marinated! First we make the marinade. Do this by removing the chipotle peppers from the can, finely chopping them and placing them together with the adobo sauce in a large bowl. Then add finely chopped garlic, a generous splash of soy sauce, a tablespoon of honey, salt, black pepper and two tablespoons of olive oil. 

Then rub the chicken wings with the marinade and let them rest in the refrigerator for a few hours. This gives the marinade a chance to do its work and give the chicken wings a delicious sweet-spicy flavor. 

After the chicken has marinated, you can roast the wings in an oven at 200 degrees Celsius or grill them in a grill pan or barbecue, whichever you prefer. When the chicken wings are cooked, they will have a delicious chipotle glaze and you can dig in; great as a snack during drinks or for dinner!

And now a true classic Mexican dish: black bean soup with chipotle. What you need for this are (of course) black beans, onion, garlic, broth, tomato paste, cumin and of course chipotle powder or peppers. 

Step 1 is to finely chop the garlic and onion and sauté them briefly in a deep pan. A tip from us: always start with the onion and add the garlic a few minutes later. If you add the onion and garlic at the same time, you risk the garlic burning before the onion has softened, which makes the garlic taste bitter. And you obviously don't want that. 

When your kitchen is filled with the delicious smell of sautéed onion and garlic it's time to add the rest of the ingredients. First add the tomato paste, then add the drained black beans, cumin, chipotle powder and broth to the pan. 

Let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes, until the flavors have melded together nicely. You may then add some salt and pepper to taste. When the soup is ready you can choose to garnish it with a spoonful of sour cream and finely chopped fresh cilantro to finish it off. That makes this both a tasty and simple Mexican feast! 

Finally, we'd like to share the recipe for a delicious and simple side dish: chipotle salsa. Start by finely chopping a number of ripe tomatoes, red onions and a few cloves of garlic. Mix these ingredients in a large bowl. 

Next, finely chop the chipotle peppers, or use ready-made chipotle powder - which is convenient. You can add these to the bowl to taste. Keep in mind how spicy you want the salsa to be. Do you like it spicy? Then add plenty of chipotle. Are you or the people you're eating with not big fans of spicy food? Then be a bit more cautious with the chipotle peppers or chipotle powder. 

When everything is combined and well mixed, season the salsa with pepper, salt, lime juice and ground cumin. The juice of one ripe lime is usually enough, but if you prefer a more acidic salsa you can always add more. You can then garnish this salsa with finely chopped fresh cilantro to complete it. 

Let this salsa rest in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes so the flavors can infuse. (This is an important step to really take the salsa to the next level, so don't skip it!) After waiting about 20 minutes, mix well again, then add more salt, pepper, lime juice and/or cumin powder if you think it's necessary. Happy with the taste? Then it's ready to serve! Delicious as a side with, for example, the black bean soup. Also great for filling your tacos. Enjoy! 

In this blog we've taken you into the world of chipotle peppers. As you now know, chipotle peppers are dried jalapeños and therefore not a pepper variety on their own. We told you in which forms you can find chipotle peppers and also in which dishes they work well. Besides the dishes mentioned in this blog, you can of course use chipotle peppers to add a delicious spicy and smoky flavor to any dish, so feel free to let your creativity run wild. We hope we've given you some useful information you can use in the kitchen and inspired you to get cooking again. 

When will black bean soup or tacos with chipotle salsa be on your menu? Or maybe you plan to use this beautiful pepper in a completely different way. We're curious! In any case, we hope you'll enjoy this wonderful addition to your spice arsenal. Enjoy it with friends and family and of course bon appétit!

Frequently asked questions about chipotle pepper

1. What exactly is a chipotle pepper?

A chipotle is a smoked and dried jalapeño pepper. The jalapeño is first harvested fully ripe (red) and then slowly smoked over a wood fire. This process gives the pepper its characteristic smoky, deep and slightly sweet flavor.

2. How hot is chipotle pepper?

Chipotle ranges on average between 2,500 and 8,000 Scoville units, comparable to a jalapeño. The heat is noticeable but not extreme. The smoky flavor is often more dominant than the spiciness, making chipotle accessible to many people.

3. What is chipotle pepper used for?

Chipotle is widely used in Mexican cuisine, for example in sauces, marinades, stews and rubs. Think tacos, chili con carne, pulled chicken or a spicy mayonnaise. Chipotle also adds extra depth and smokiness to barbecue dishes.

4. What is the difference between chipotle in adobo and chipotle powder?

Chipotle in adobo are whole or halved peppers in a spiced tomato sauce. These are soft and moist. Chipotle powder is finely ground dried chipotle and is used as a spice in dry rubs or to flavor sauces. Powder is more concentrated and easier to dose.

5. How do you best store chipotle pepper?

Dried chipotle or chipotle powder should be stored airtight, in a dark and dry place. This keeps the flavor optimal for months. Chipotle in adobo should be stored in the refrigerator in a closed jar after opening and preferably used within 1–2 weeks.