The chiles › Chipotle
C. annuum
Chipotle
lowDried
2,500-8,000 SHU
Origin
Mexico; it is the smoked jalapeño.
Uses
The star of chipotles en adobo, canned or jarred, ready for sauces, marinades and stews. It brings a deep smokiness to dressings, mayonnaises and barbecued meats.
About this chile
It is a jalapeño that has ripened to red and then been slowly smoked and dried. Its name comes from the Nahuatl "chilpoctli", which means precisely "smoked chilli". That process completely transforms the fresh pepper: it loses the herbaceous edge and gains a deep, smoky, almost chocolatey flavour that is a hallmark of Mexican cooking.