FoodFood InformationPeppers/Chiles
A large, dried, smoked jalapeno; also known as a chile ahumado or a chile meco. Dull tan to a coffee brown in color, veined and ridged, measuring about 2 to 4 inches long and about I inch across. Medium thick fleshed, smoky and sweet in flavor with tobacco and chocolate tones, a Brazil nut finish, and a subtle, deep, rounded heat. As much as one-fifth of the Mexican jalapeno crop is processed as chipotles. Used mainly in soups, salsas, and sauces. Chipotles are widely used in Mexican and Southwestern cooking. They are available canned in a red adobo sauce. The chipotle grande a smoked dried huachinango chile (see Huachinango in the section on fresh chiles), has similar flavors, but is larger.