Ancho Pepper

Ancho peppers are are the dried version of Poblano, or "people" peppers. Their flavor is somewhat sweet and somewhat raisin-like, with medium heat. The outer skin has a rich, sweet, raisin-like flavor, which is most commonly associated with the flavor of the dish chili; the inner veins and of the pepper are hot. When you buy the whole pod, you have the advantage of being able to separate these two distinct flavors. You can grind the whole dried pod in a blender (with or without the hot seeds, depending on heat preferences). You can also "bring them back to life" by pouring boiling-hot water over them and steeping for about 20 minutes.

Our ground ancho is made only from the mild outer flesh, giving it an intensely rich chili flavor with almost no heat at all. This deep red-brown powder is a great base for Mexican dishes, chili, meat rubs, and sauces.

Cuisines and Categories

• Chiles, Mexican

Recipes with this Spice

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