FoodFood InformationPeppers/Chiles
A large, dried, smoked jalapeno; also known as a chile ahumado or a chilemeco. Dull tan to a coffee brown in color, veined and ridged, measuringabout 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 nutfinish, and a subtle, deep, rounded heat. As much as one-fifth of the Mexicanjalapeno crop is processed as chipotles. Used mainly in soups, salsas, andsauces. Chipotles are widely used in Mexican and Southwestern cooking. Theyare available canned in a red adobo sauce. The chipotle grande a smokeddried huachinango chile (see Huachinango in the section on fresh chiles),has similar flavors, but is larger.