chipotle chiles in adobo sauce

what is it?

Chipotles are dried, smoked jalapeños. Adobo is a tangy, slightly sweet red sauce. Put them together in a can and they become a versatile pantry staple. Use just the chipotles for intense smoky chile heat or just the sauce for a sour-sweet flavor and a slightly less fiery smoky heat.

how to choose:

Any Mexican or Latin food market will have them, and many supermarkets carry chipotles en adobo in their Mexican food sections.

how to prep:

The chipotles are soft and ready to go straight from the can. They can be quite spicy, but the heat can be tempered a bit by scraping out the seeds.

how to store:

Transfer unused chiles and sauce to an airtight container—preferably glass, as the sauce tends to stain plastic—and refrigerate for about a month. Or try freezing individual chiles in an ice cube tray and then transfer the cubes to a zip-top freezer bag. Frozen, they'll keep for about three months.