Need Ancho Chili Powder, Bought Some Dried Chilis

[Sweetfudge]

so, i've been trying to find ancho chili powder all week. i've checked just about every grocery store in the area, even the health food stores, with no luck. i went to the local mercado, and found some dried ancho chilis. was wondering if i could use these to make powder somehow. i've thought maybe i could grind them in my little coffee grinder that i use to grind nuts. or put them in a bowl, and grind them with a cup like a mortar and pestle. also, if i did either of these, would i want to use the seeds or remove them?

my other option is to go to Williams-Sonoma where i'm sure they have the powder. i'm just not sure i want to pay that much for something i might use in a few recipes...although my cousin used to work there, and i think she still has her discount (on maternity leave).

Thanks

[MaryJones2]

so, i've been trying to find ancho chili powder all week. i've checked just about every grocery store in the area, even the health food stores, with no luck. i went to the local mercado, and found some dried ancho chilis. was wondering if i could use these to make powder somehow. i've thought maybe i could grind them in my little coffee grinder that i use to grind nuts. or put them in a bowl, and grind them with a cup like a mortar and pestle. also, if i did either of these, would i want to use the seeds or remove them?

my other option is to go to Williams-Sonoma where i'm sure they have the powder. i'm just not sure i want to pay that much for something i might use in a few recipes...although my cousin used to work there, and i think she still has her discount (on maternity leave).

Thanks

McCormick makes ancho but I don't see it in every store. I usually coarsely chop them but I'm sure you could use a coffee grinder if you wanted a powder. If you cook it long enough I doubt you'll be able to see a difference. I also use the seeds - it makes it hotter!

[munchkinette]

I just watched this episode of Good Eats. Alton Brown makes his own chili powder.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[Sweetfudge]

thanks guys!

[sickchick]

Do you have a mortar & pestle Sweetheart?

I miss ancho chilis!

[Sweetfudge]

Do you have a mortar & pestle Sweetheart?

of course i do!

[larry mac]

I use a coffee grinder (I bought another one just for this purpose, only cost $10) for ancho, dried chipotely, and any other dried peppers I can find. I sprinkle it on chicken, with paprika for color, and other spices before cooking. I add it to my homemade salsas in addition to the fresh peppers to give more heat and flavor layers. I use it in chili, taco soup, and taco meat seasoning.

I use a mix of habernero, jalepeno, and cayenne powder to preseason hot wings before marinating in hot wing sauce.

best regards, lm

p.s., Some of these peppers are a little tough. If you want a fine powder, I personally wouldn't use a mortar & pestle unless you bake, cook, or dry them out pretty good first. A coffee grinder will do it in seconds without all the fuss.

[Sweetfudge]

I use a coffee grinder (I bought another one just for this purpose, only cost $10) for ancho, dried chipotely, and any other dried peppers I can find. I sprinkle it on chicken, with paprika for color, and other spices before cooking. I add it to my homemade salsas in addition to the fresh peppers to give more heat and flavor layers. I use it in chili, taco soup, and taco meat seasoning.

I use a mix of habernero, jalepeno, and cayenne powder to preseason hot wings before marinating in hot wing sauce.

best regards, lm

p.s., Some of these peppers are a little tough. If you want a fine powder, I personally wouldn't use a mortar & pestle unless you bake, cook, or dry them out pretty good first. A coffee grinder will do it in seconds without all the fuss.

ooh, i'll have to try it on chicken! yeah, i don't drink coffee, just went out and bought a $10 grinder for nuts and flax and such. worked really great for this as well. yeah, i was pretty surprised at how tough the peppers were. i also was confused because when i opened the bag, they smelled like prunes. so, of course, i stuck my finger into the powder and took a taste, worried that i'd gotten the wrong thing. LOL my mouth was on fire! definitely not prunes!

i was mostly kidding about the mortar and pestle idea

by the way, what's the best way to store the peppers/powder?

[larry mac]

I got some small sprinkle jars (they look like miniature mason jars with a handle and a white top) from walmart. I think they are 75 cents. They don't hold a lot, maybe 2-3 ounces. I had to drill out the holes a bit to improve the delivery. One I cover with some foil & rubber band when not in use. And the other one I use the top insert that came with it. I just poke it out with a toothpick when I use it.

A trick I used to use to get the spices/peppers out of the coffee grinder in order to use it for something else is to grind bread (like soft white bread). Of course one could just use gluten-free bread.

best regards, lm

[Sweetfudge]

I got some small sprinkle jars (they look like miniature mason jars with a handle and a white top) from walmart. I think they are 75 cents. They don't hold a lot, maybe 2-3 ounces. I had to drill out the holes a bit to improve the delivery. One I cover with some foil & rubber band when not in use. And the other one I use the top insert that came with it. I just poke it out with a toothpick when I use it.

A trick I used to use to get the spices/peppers out of the coffee grinder in order to use it for something else is to grind bread (like soft white bread). Of course one could just use gluten-free bread.

best regards, lm

great ideas! ooh, chili bread crumbs!

[sickchick]

Hey Sweetheart!

I store my spices in old spice containers. I keep the glass ones and just rewash them.

[purple]

We have a Winco in the big city with bulk spices. I buy spice shaker bottles there. Clear plastic with a red lid, about 50 cents each.

[Sweetfudge]

thanks y'all!

[ang1e0251]

Just a hint from the voice of experience; wear gloves when working with your chilis. It's too easy to touch your body with chili on it and o-o-o-o-eeeeeeeeee! I also use bread to clean my grinder. I wish I could have some chilis right now!

[larry mac]

Just a hint from the voice of experience; wear gloves when working with your chilis. It's too easy to touch your body with chili on it and o-o-o-o-eeeeeeeeee!.....

Amen to that. I chopped up some haberneros the other night and later rubbed my eye. It hurt real bad.

lm

[Sweetfudge]

good to know! thanks