Chipotle

Production

Jalapeño pepper (Capsicum annum) is one of the most typical ingredients of Mexican cuisine. This chili pepper is consumed at the rate of 7-9 kg per year, per capita. It is mostly consumed fresh but also in different forms such as pickled, dried and smoked. Jalapeño varieties differ in size and heat. Typically, a grower passes through a jalapeño field many times, picking the unripe, green jalapeños for market. Jalapeños are green for most of the season but in the fall, which is the end of the growing season, they naturally ripen and turn bright red. In Mexico and the United States there is a growing market for ripe red jalapeños (the last stage of maturation). They are kept on the bush as long as possible. When they are deep red and have lost much of their moisture, they are picked to be made into chipotles.

Smoking is a common technique of food preservation that provides a distinctive aroma and flavor, and is traditionally carried out in a field open-oven. The smoking process can affect structural, chemical and nutritional properties of food. Furthermore, the type of wood used in the smoking process has an impact on the resulting smoked food. The smoking of jalapeños dates back centuries and was mainly used by the Aztecs who are thought to have preserved the chilis by smoking them, a process they also used on meats. The process of chipotle production involves the use of firewood to dry and smoke the red jalapeño for a period of six days in an open-smoker installation. The temperature is maintained between 65 and 75 degrees Celsius, using mainly pecan (Carya illinoinensis) firewood.

Traditionally, the peppers are moved to a closed smoking chamber and spread on metal grills, but in recent years producers have begun using large gas dryers. Wood is put in a firebox, and the smoke enters the sealed chamber. Every few hours the jalapeños are stirred to mix in the smoke. They are smoked for several days, until most of the moisture is removed. The moisture within the red jalapeño peppers slightly decreases from 88% to 81% during the first three days, but by the end of the drying process, the moisture level reaches a final value of 6%. In the end, the chipotles are dried and shriveled like prunes or raisins. The underlying heat of the jalapeños combines with the taste of smoke, forming a flavor distinctive to chipotle peppers. Typically, ten pounds of jalapeños make one pound of chipotles after being thoroughly dried. In recent years, some commercial producers have begun using large gas dryers and artificial smoke flavoring, which expedites the drying process but produces a less flavorful chipotle.

Other chilis can be smoked and dried for chipotle pepper, such as the bell or serrano variety, but smoked red jalapeños are most commonly used.

History and etymology

The technique of smoke-drying jalapeños can be traced back to the early food preservation practices used in Mesoamerica, even prior to the Aztecs. The name comes from the Nahuatl word chīlpoctli (Nahuatl pronunciation:), meaning "smoked chili". This form of chili was most likely encountered by Christopher Columbus on his trip to the New World, and brought back to Spain, where it later spread to Europe, India and beyond. Their self-preserving composition would have made it possible for them to survive the long journey across several oceans.

Varieties

In today’s society, chipotles are predominantly sourced from Mexico, where they produce two different varieties of the spice: morita, which is most commonly found in the United States, and the larger meco, which is mainly used domestically. Morita means “small mulberry” in Spanish, and is grown primarily in the Chihuahua State, it is typically darker in color with a reddish-purple exterior. They are smoked for less time, and in many cultures considered inferior to the meco. The meco, which is also known as chili ahumado or típico, is grayish tan in color with a dusty looking surface; some say it resembles a cigar butt. This variation of the pepper tends to be smokier in taste, and are the preferred chipotle of many natives. They are sometimes referred to as chili navideño because they are reconstituted and stuffed to make a very traditional dish that is most popular at Christmas time amongst Mexican locals.

Most chipotle meco never make it across the Mexican border, although they can occasionally be found for sale in Mexican specialty markets.

Chipotle grande is a smoke-dried Huachinango chili with a similar flavor profile, however the chili is larger, and higher in cost. Sold fresh at the market, this variation of the chipotle pepper will typically sell for three to four times as much as jalapeño.

Many pair this spice with annatto, cumin, ginger, oregano and tomato powder. Additionally, it is most commonly paired with traditional dishes such as bean soup, pimento cheese, tomatillo salsa, fish tacos and grilled flank steak.

Forms of chipotleChipotles are purchased in numerous forms: chipotle powder, chipotle flakes, chipotle pods, canned chipotles in adobo sauce, concentrated chipotle base and wet chipotle meat marinade.

The canned adobo sauce is the most common form found in the United States, though the marinade or food preservative form of it originated in Spain. Typically, the marinade contains a variety of spices, herbs, and vegetables including tomatoes, onions, the powdered dried chilis, garlic and vinegar. Two of the most popular brands of adobo sauce are La Morena (known for having the strongest chipotle flavor) and San Marcos, the preferred brand in Austin, Texas. "Chipocludo", a term for the way of preserving chipotles practiced in Central Mexico, refers to conservation in a jar of brown sugar and vinegar marinade. "En adobo" or "chipotles adobado" are denominations for seasoned canned chipotles in sauce.

Use

Chipotles, often a key ingredient in a recipe, impart a relatively mild but earthy spiciness to many dishes in Mexican cuisine. The chilis are used to make various salsas. Chipotle can be ground and combined with other spices to make a meat marinade – adobo. Chipotle is used, typically in powdered form, as an ingredient in both homemade and commercial products, including some brands of barbecue sauce and hot sauce, as well as in some chili con carnes and stews. Usually when used commercially, the product is advertised as having chipotle in it.

Chipotles are spicy and have a distinctive smoky flavor. The flesh is thick, so the chilis are usually used in a slow-cooked dish rather than raw. It can also be lightly toasted on a dry comal or skillet, just until they are fragrant and slightly swell. When overcooked, they can be very bitter. For some traditional Mexican sauces, the toasted chilis would then be sautéed in oil or lard before being pureed. The chilis can also be soaked in warm water or stock until they become pliable and then can be added to a dish. The different forms of chipotle can be added to soups and stews, and in the braising liquid for meat. They can also accompany beans, pickled vegetable mixes, scrambled eggs or chilaquiles. They can also be stuffed and baked, and added to cake or brownies.

Nutritional value