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It’s time to roll up your sleeves and make homemade chipotle peppers in adobo sauce! These smoky, spicy, and powerfully flavored chipotle peppers will elevate your cooking to new heights. Making your own chipotle peppers in adobo sauce may seem overwhelming at first, but I’ll show you how simple it is and how easy it is to make. so How rewarding! These homemade chipotles will become a staple in your pantry and you’ll soon be hard at work. magic On your Mexican dishes and beyond!
If you’ve ever walked down the spice aisle at your local grocery store, you’ve probably seen those little cans of chipotles in adobo sauce. Their rich, smoky aroma and complex flavor can elevate a dish from ordinary to extraordinary. But did you know you can make this versatile ingredient at home? Let’s delve into the art of making your own homemade chipotles in adobo sauce, a process that’s both satisfying and surprisingly simple.
Making chipotle peppers in adobo sauce at home is a rewarding endeavor that allows you to customize the flavors and control the ingredients. With just a few steps and basic ingredients, you can create a flavorful condiment that will become a staple in your kitchen. Whether you’re an experienced cook or a culinary novice, these homemade smoked chipotle peppers with their smoky, sensual sauce will completely delight your taste buds!
What are chipotle peppers in adobo sauce?
Chipotles in adobo are a staple in Mexican cuisine, made from dried and smoked jalapeño peppers simmered in a tangy and slightly sweet sauce made with tomatoes, vinegar, and various spices. This combination results in a flavorful condiment that adds depth and heat to a variety of dishes, from stews to tacos.
Why make your own?
I LOVE taking store-bought seasonings and seasoning blends and making my own homemade versions of them. Just check out the dozens and dozens of seasoning blends, homemade seasonings, and pickled vegetables on my blog and you’ll see what I mean. And while store-bought chipotles are convenient, homemade chipotles in adobo sauce have several huge advantages:
- No junk ingredients: Everything is made from scratch with no preservatives, flavor enhancers or artificial ingredients.
- Personalization: Adjust the heat, sweetness and spiciness levels to your liking.
- Flavor: They are fresher, more vibrant and much tastier!
- Satisfaction: There is something incredibly rewarding about creating something of your own from scratch.
In short, nothing beats homemade and I’m going to show you step by step how to make chipotles in adobo sauce!
Ingredients you will need
You need two things to make these homemade chipotle peppers in adobo sauce: 1) Chipotle peppers and 2) Adobo sauce. I’ve created detailed tutorials on how to make each of these (see below). Note that both can be made separately well in advance. And when you combine the two together (the smoky chipotle peppers with the sweet and sour adobo sauce), you get a magical condiment that enhances everything from tacos to adobos.
Chipotle chiles are jalapeño chiles that are allowed to ripen until they turn a deep red color and then smoked and dried. They are known for their smoky, slightly sweet, and intense flavor.
Get the recipe: How to make chipotle peppers
Adobo sauce is a traditional Mexican sauce made from crushed chili peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, vinegar, and a variety of spices. It has a thick texture and an incredibly rich and robust flavor. It is the sauce in which smoked chipotle peppers are dipped to make chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Get my recipe: Adobo sauce
Storage
These homemade chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can be kept in the refrigerator in a sterilized, airtight glass jar for at least a few weeks (check periodically for mold or odors). For longer storage, they can also be frozen for up to 6 months. A convenient way to do this is in ice cube trays: place a chipotle pepper in each cube with a little adobo sauce, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Then, you can simply scoop out as many chipotle peppers as you need for whatever you’re making.
A common question is whether chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can be canned in a water bath canner or a pressure canner. In theory, they can be canned in a pressure canner, but this recipe has not been tested for that purpose. For longer storage, I recommend freezing them.
How to use chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
And this is where the magic begins and never ends! These smoked chipotles are an endless source of flavor and can be used in so many delicious ways. Here are some ideas:
- Season soups, stews and sauces: Add a chopped chipotle and a spoonful of salsa to enrich the flavor of soups, stews, chili or sauces. Use them in my recipes Red Pozole, Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soupand Instant Chili.
- Flavor enhancer for marinades: Mix it with marinades for beef, pork, chicken, seafood or tofu to give them a smoky touch.
- Tacos and burritos: Add some to tacos, burritos or quesadillas for a smoky and spicy surprise. Add them to our Birria tacos, Tinga Poblana Tacos, Mexican meatballs, Meatball soup,
- Seasoned Eggs: Add some to your scrambled eggs and omelets for a delicious twist.
- Dips, spreads and sauces: Mix with sour cream or yogurt to create a spicy sauce or spread, or add a little to your salsa for a great flavor. Add a little to our Processed Cheese and Restaurant style salsa to give it a touch of flavor.
- Tomato and barbecue sauce: Add a tablespoon or two for a smoky, spicy kick. Try it in my BBQ Sauce Recipe and Cherry BBQ Sauce.
Homemade recipe for chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Let’s get started!
Note: As mentioned above, the smoked chipotle peppers and adobo sauce can be prepared well in advance and then combined when ready.
First we need to reconstitute the smoked chipotle peppers. To do this, place the chipotle peppers in a large bowl and pour boiling water over them until they are submerged. Let them sit until they cool. Then, drain them very well to remove as much water as possible.
Heat the adobo sauce in a large saucepan, add the drained reconstituted smoked chipotle chiles, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Pour the hot mixture into sterilized jars, close the lids, and let cool completely. Transfer the jars to the refrigerator and let them sit for a few days before using to give the chipotles time to absorb the sauce and allow all the flavors to blend.
These homemade chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Just check them periodically for mold or odors. They can also be frozen (see my “Storage” tips above).
Enjoy!
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
These smoky, spicy, potent and flavorful chipotles in adobo sauce will elevate your cooking to new heights and work absolute magic on your Mexican dishes and beyond!
The smoked chipotle chiles and adobo sauce can be prepared well in advance and then combined when ready.
Service: 1chipotle in adobo sauceCalories: 31kcalCarbohydrates: 5gramProtein: 0.6gramFat: 2gramSaturated fat: 0.3gramPolyunsaturated fat: 0.3gramMonounsaturated fat: 1gramSodium: 74mgPotassium: 83mgFiber: 2gramSugar: 4gramVitamin A: 786International UnionVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet, where you’ll find mouthwatering originals, reimagined classics, and simply delicious dishes from around the world. I’m originally from Germany, then grew up in England, traveled the world, and now live in the U.S. From my globally influenced kitchen, I invite you to travel the world through your taste buds.
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