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    You are here: Home / Chiles / Ancho Chile

    Ancho Chile

    Douglas Cullen, This blog generates income via ads and affiliate links which earn us a small commission.

    A Mild, Slightly Sweet Dried Chile

    If you are cooking Mexican, you will be using many types of chiles both fresh and dried. The ancho chile, a poblano chile that has been dried, is a staple in Mexican cooking. It serves as the base of an infinite variety of sauces and salsas. Ancho means wide. Therefore, in Spanish, it’s known as the “wide” chile.

    Dried Ancho Chiles

    Characteristics

    The ancho is a slightly sweet mild dried Chile with a smell very similar to raisins. It has a lot of flesh which gives sauces and salsas good body. Sauces prepared with anchos have a rich deep red color which looks beautiful on the plate.  Anchos add a lot of flavor to a dish but little heat. If you are new to cooking with dried chiles this is a good one to start with.

    How to Choose

    Always look for chiles that are soft and pliable. Avoid any that look dry and dusty and are hard and brittle. They are past their prime. They will lack flavor and can be bitter. They also don’t reconstitute well so they won’t provide enough body to a sauce.

    Dried Ancho Chile

    Where to Buy

    Ancho chiles should be available in any supermarket that carries dried chiles. Markets that cater to Mexican shoppers will have the freshest chiles because there will be a high turnover. If you are unable to find them at your local store, you can order them online through MexGrocer or Amazon.

    Recipes that Use Ancho Chiles

    • Red Pork Pozole
    • Red Enchilada Sauce
    • Beef Tenderloin in a 3 Chile Sauce

    Other Dried Chiles

    • Guajillo Chile

    More Chiles

    • Bowl of Homemade Fajita Seasoning Mix
      Fajita Seasoning
    • Bowl of Mexican Pickled Peppers (Chiles en Vinagre)
      Mexican Pickled Peppers
    • Dried Pasilla Chiles
      Pasilla Chiles
    • Authentic Chile en Nogada on Plate
      Chiles en Nogada

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Egghead says

      July 29, 2020 at 3:37 am

      Ancho sour cream will change your life, but only if you use full-fat sour cream. (If you use reduced-fat sour cream, it will still taste great, but won t rock your taste buds the same way!) Soak the dried pods in hot water for 30 minutes, then remove the seeds and stems. Combine the reconstituted peppers with some sour cream and puree until smooth.

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    Hola, I am Douglas. Let me share my love of Mexican Cuisine with you that developed over 20+ years of living in Mexico.

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