• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Mexican Food Journal

A food blog with authentic Mexican recipes, cooking tips, video, and step-by-step instruction.

  • Recipes
    • Beans
    • Beef
    • Beverages
    • Cheese
    • Chicken
    • Chiles
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Eggs
    • Fish & Seafood
    • Pork
    • Rice
    • Salads
    • Salsas & Sauces
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Stews
    • Tortillas
    • Tacos
    • Vegetables
  • Contact
  • About
    • About
    • Speaking Opportunities
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
You are here: Home / Chiles / Guajillo Chile

Guajillo Chile

Facebook9TweetPin42

The Chile Guajillo – One of the Most Popular Chiles in Mexico

Guajillo chiles [pronounced gwa-HEE-yo] are dried chiles used throughout Mexico as a base for rich salsas and sauces. They add a complex fruity flavor with little burn. Cooks will add other chiles such as the chile de árbol to bring up the heat in a dish.

Guajillo Chiles
Guajillo Chiles

How to Choose

Choose guajillos that have smooth, shiny skin and are still pliable which indicates freshness. Older guajillos look dusty and a bit wrinkled and will crack when bent. They can still be used but their flavor has faded and your salsa won’t be as rich. Your best bet for finding fresh chiles is at a market that caters to Mexican shoppers. The turnover will be much greater ensuring you will always find a fresh supply and fresh counts with chiles.

How to Use Guajillo Chiles

Rinse the chiles under running water to remove any dust and debris then pat dry. Remove the stems. Split the chiles down the side and remove the seeds and veins. For most dishes prepared with guajillos, you generally use them toasted which brings out the richness of the chile and adds a slight hint of smoke and complexity.

To toast them, heat a pan to medium hot. Place the chiles the pan and toast them for about 20 to 30 seconds per side until they start to become fragrant. Do not let them burn or they will develop an acrid taste. Once they are toasted, they are ready to be used in any recipe that calls for them.

In few dish such as Enchiladas Portales Style in San Miguel de Allende, the guajillo chiles are used without toasting giving the dish a lighter fresher taste.

Other Names

In Mexico, the guajillo chile is called the chile guajillo. In the state of Guanajuato, it is also called the chile cascabel ancho. In the U.S. it is commonly called the guajillo chili and sometimes the guajillo pepper.

Recipes That Use Guajillo Chiles

  • Guajillo Chile Salsa
  • Garbanzo Beans in a Guajillo Chile Sauce
Subscribe to get the latest recipes and news as we post them.
Expect great new recipes and news about once a week.
Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Facebook9TweetPin42

Filed Under: Chiles Tagged With: Chiles, Dried Chiles, Guajillo Chile, Guajillo Chiles

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Douglas Cullen
I am Douglas C. – Share my love of Mexican  Cuisine that developed over 20+ years of living in Mexico. More…

Subscribe for fresh Mexican recipes…

Expect great new recipes and news about once a week.

Our Best Mexican Recipes

Salsa Verde Recipe

Chicken Tinga Recipe

Sopa de Fideo Recipe

Chiles en Nogada

Chiles Rellenos

Carne Asada

Veracruz Style White Fish

 

Footer

Instagram

  • Meat Croquettes with onion and cilantro.
#mexicanfood #cilantro #onion #meatcroquette #cooking #homecooking #family #foodpics #instafood #instayum #foodblogger #beef #tasty #tastyfood #mexicancuisine #mexico #happy
  • Chicken and Red Sauce Tamal Oaxaqueño on Banana Leaf.
#mexicancuisine #mexicanfood #tamales #tamalesoaxaqueños #bananaleaf #redsauce #chicken #corn
  • Banana-Mango Kefir Smoothie 
Perfect for a warm spring day. Kids love it!
#kefir #kefirrecipes #mango #banana #chiaseeds #mexicanfood #healthyfood #healthylifestyle
  • Habanero Salsa.
Coming soon! 
#habanerochile #habanerosauce #habanerorecipes #mexicanfood #mexicanrecepies #homecoking
  • So simple! Best memories from childhood.
Just grab a piece of bread (bolillo) and spread some strawberry jam.
#mexicanfood #strawberryjam #bolillos #whitebread #dessert #simplerecipe

Follow us!

Copyright © 2018 · Douglas Cullen

Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Write for Us
Subscribe to get the latest recipes and news as we post them.
Expect great new recipes and news about once a week.
Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party.