Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce

I adore chipotle chili peppers!  They have changed my world…well maybe not my entire world, but they have changed my cooking world!

What are canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce?

Chipotle pepper comes from the Nahuatl word chilpoctli meaning “smoked chili”.  These peppers are smoke-dried jalapenos preserved in adobo sauce.  They have a distinct, smoky, spicy, slightly sweet flavor. The adobo sauce they are preserved in is also highly flavorful, composed of various spices such as paprika, oregano, and garlic as well as vinegar, onion and tomato which all enhance the taste of the chipotle peppers.

Where can I find them?

They can be found in the Latin isle of any grocery store.

 How do I store them?

Most recipes only call for 1 tablespoon of minced chipotle peppers and so you are left with an open can of smoky, spicy goodness.  I love spice, but that is a lot of chipotle peppers to use up before their fridge life expires!  To make the most of your worthy investment, I suggest storing the chipotle peppers in the freezer.

First, spread out saran wrap on a small baking tray, plate, or ice tray that will fit in your freezer. Next, mince the chipotle peppers, (or you can use a food processor), and plop them onto the saran wrap in 1 tablespoon increments a few inches apart (if using an ice tray, place them in each ice cube compartment on the saran wrap).  Put the tray in the freezer and when the chipotles are frozen, cut the saran wrap apart, individually wrap each tablespoon, and find your chipotles a new home in your freezer.

It only takes a few minutes and then you always have chipotle peppers on hand and don’t have to stress about them going bad in your fridge.  Win, win!