Wondering how to use dried chiles in your cooking? Dried chiles have been a staple of Mexican cuisine for centuries, and different generations have found a wide variety of uses for the equally wide variety of chiles. Here, we’ll be going over a few ways you can use them in your cooking so you can add more spice, flavor, and heat to your meals!

Rehydrating Dried chiles

If you’re wondering how to use dried chiles, know that you can use them both in their dried and rehydrated forms. The process for rehydrating is very simple and just takes a few minutes. To do so, place your dried chiles in a large skillet on medium heat and cover them in water once they begin to brown. Place a lid over the skillet and bring it to a simmer, letting it sit for 5 to 8 minutes. Take it off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes with the lid still on. Then, you’re done – use your rehydrated chiles as needed.

Popular recipes

Dried chiles can be used in sauces, meat rubs, soups, salsas, adobos, marinades, and even masa for tortillas. Some popular recipes like birria tacos or chile sauce really highlight the complex flavors and heat that dried chiles can bring to a dish, and they’re what we’d recommend making if you want to learn how to use dried chiles to their full potential. Our recipes for these dishes, along with many more that will help you expertly use dried chiles in your cooking, can be found on our website right here.

Chiles Varieties

When most people think of so-called “superfoods,” that come with health and nutritional benefits their mind goes to avocados, legumes, salmon, and certain nuts and seeds. It seems like no one talks about chiles and the various benefits they offer! Dried chiles have been enjoyed for generations, and they’ve long been a staple of Mexican cuisine not only because of the spice and flavor they bring to a dish but because of a variety of other reasons that most are unaware of. Here, we’ll be going over a few of the biggest benefits of dried whole chiles so they can get their time in the spotlight.

Health and wellness benefits

As you might already know, chiles are naturally high in a component called capsaicin which gives them their flavor, spice, and general “hotness.” But did you know that it has also been linked to reducing inflammation? This makes dried chiles a natural, more holistic way to relieve pain.

Regular and dried chiles are also naturally high in vitamin A and vitamin C, which aid in maintaining healthy vision, cell division, reproduction, and forming blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and collagen in bones, respectively. These two vitamins also give your immune system a big boost, helping you stay in good health.

Chiles are also a great source of flavonoids, which are a group of plant metabolites that can have antioxidant effects and may provide benefits to cell function.

Looking to lose weight? Eating spicy foods like chiles can aide in doing so. More specifically, the heat you feel is created by your body, which means you’re burning calories during the process. You won’t lose a bunch of weight just from eating chiles alone, but they’re a helpful element in any weight loss journey.

Your heart can also benefit from eating chiles. They can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing lipid deposits and lowering blood serum cholesterol in addition to aiding blood flow by dilating blood vessels. 

Cooking Benefits

The various potential health benefits of dried chiles are nice, but if you’re anything like us, you’re more interested in what benefits they offer in the kitchen. One thing that’s great about dried chiles is that, if stored properly in an airtight container, they’ll be good for up to a year, and the heat and flavor won’t dissipate. If you know you’ll be using them consistently in your cooking, you can buy them once and have them on hand for a long time.

Another benefit of dried whole chiles is that you can easily rehydrate them and then turn them into a puree and incorporate them into a sauce (mole) or meat rub and use them in your dish in a number of different ways.  

Another general benefit of dried chiles is just how many different varieties there are, and you can find all your favorites and more right here at Don Juan Chiles. Shop our selection and order from us today!

Many people crave the spiciness of chile peppers in their food, the hotter the better, while others scrunch their nose at the twinge of hotness on their tongue and beg for a drink. But where did this fascinating ingredient originate?

The Origin of Chiles

Researchers believe chile peppers originated in the Americas, specifically Mesoamerica (comprised of parts of modern day Central America), as far back as 400 BC. Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Mayans and Aztecs believed chile peppers had medicinal properties and used them not only for cooking but to treat coughs, sore throats, and toothaches.

Christopher Columbus was the first to name the fruit of the Capsicum plant “pimienta”, Spanish for pepper, because they had a similar taste to the rare, costly black peppercorns from his home country. Realizing these “pimientas” were an inexpensive substitute for the peppercorns, Columbus took them to Spain, and the use of chile peppers spread quickly around the world.

The Versatility of Chiles

Chile peppers are members of the nightshade family, related to bell peppers and tomatoes. Cayenne and jalapeño are two of their many varieties. They can be used in many different ways to liven up a dish and are rich in vitamins and minerals. They are primarily used as a spice but can be cooked or dried and powdered.

One of the best ways to preserve chile peppers is through drying or dehydrating them. With all moisture removed, the flavor and heat of the peppers is more concentrated, creating a versatile ingredient. Dried chiles can be rehydrated for use in sauces, soups, stews and chilis.

A Chile Pepper Fiesta 

Whether you are looking for just the right food to expand your taste palette or that hard-to-find ingredient for your favorite spicy dish, look no further than Don Juan Chiles. We take pride in supplying the best dried chiles to our customers around the globe. To order dried chiles online, plus over 250 other delicious products, visit our online shop today.

If you’re new to the world of Mexican cuisine, the number of different dried chiles there are to learn about can seem very overwhelming. You’re likely unfamiliar with this variety because most aren’t available in major American grocery stores, meaning many chefs and individuals who are passionate about authentic Mexican food or want to learn more end up having to order dried chiles online from a place like Don Juan Chiles.

If you’re looking to learn more about dried chiles and their place in Mexican cuisine, consider this your guide.

Are all chiles hot?

While you may consider chiles to be something that just adds spice, they’re actually included in Mexican dishes to add flavor and texture. In fact, some even have a sweet, fruity taste. For example, the Ancho chile has a distinctly sweet and mild taste, and the Mulato chile is sweet with a fruit flavor and slightly smoky.

How are dried chiles used in Mexican food?

Just as there are a variety of dried chiles, there are a variety of ways they can be used. They can be crushed into powder that gets sprinkled on top of a dish or goes in salsa, meat rubs, stews, soups, or chili, soaked until soft and made into a paste or sauce, blended into a puree, and so much more. If you want a dish that really highlights dried chiles, try making a mole – a rich, thick sauce or paste. When you order dried chiles online from Don Juan Chiles, the possibilities are nearly endless! However, regardless of what you’re making, we always recommend lightly toasting your chiles on the stove in a frying pan because it will draw out flavor and develop it.

Can you make chiles less spicy?

Some chiles are more sweet and fruity tasting than spicy, and not all of them are what you might consider “hot.” However, sometimes you can do without the hot spiciness. To make a dried chile less spicy, simply remove all veins and seeds.

Still struggling to find the right dried chile for you? Contact us today!