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PASILLA
Also known as the chile negro. Literally "little raisin," thepasilla is a dried chilaca chile. There is some confusion over the nameof this chile in California and northern Mexico, the fresh poblano and itsdried forms, the ancho and mulato, are referred to (mistakenly) as pasillas.Dark raisin brown, wrinkled, elongated, and tapering. Measures about 5 to6 inches long and I to 1 1/2 inches across. Thin fleshed; has some berry,grape, and herbaceous tones, and a hint of liquorice. Like the ancho andthe mulato, the pasilla is sold in three grades of quality in Mexico primeromediano and the regular pasilla. Together with the ancho and mulato, thepasilla is one of the "holy trinity" of chiles used in the preparationof the traditional mole sauce. It is excellent for making other sauces,especially for seafood. Also used in powdered form.