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.
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 a few dishes 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.
Where can I get it yo buy? I am
In the US….
Any Latin market will have Guajillo chiles, even some grocery stores in their international foods section.. Also, many places online sell them. They are one of my favorite chiles; I hope you enjoy them as well.
Hello and thank you for your blog. I have “dried” guajillo chiles I purchased that are in a sealed bag. The chiles are brittle and crack when touched. Should I throw them out because the flavor is gone? I hate throwing out food but are these peppers useless now? I also have a bag of ancho peppers in the same condition.
Thank you again
Alyce
I toasted guajillo chilies and chili ancho but my sauce was too bitter, why?
Yes, you can use ancho peppers in place of guajillo chile peppers in any recipe, though the flavors are not identical. Anchos have an earthier, darker flavor, where guajillos are a bit fruity with notes of green tea. They actually work wonderfully when used together.
This is great information. I’m considering substituting guajillo for ancho. How many guajillos would you recommend substituting per ancho?