The wonderful mysterious, smoky, earthy, spicy, just plain addictive flavor that you just can't kind put your tongue on....You know that one I am talking about with really great Tex-Mex food? Its most likely the extra little bit of Chipotle Puree that's added here and there. Chipotles (chee-pote-lays) are red Jalapeno chilies that are slowly smoked over Mesquite wood.

Stuff about Chipotle Puree

 You may buy a can Chipotles in Adobo Sauce at the store, or make your own Chipotles in Adobo Sauce for preserving, or for making a quick batch at home try these quick steps.  Late Auguest or Early September is good harvest time for red Jalapeno chilies, so we will be making some homemade Chipotles then. You can use this Chipotle Puree in making a Sweet Chipotle Dressing, a vinaigrette for making an awesome coleslaw, in the best Tex-Max spanish rice I have ever made, and making those awesome black beans, kind of like Cowboy Style Black Beans with big time flavor, or in a quick-cooked chunky salsa Ranchero Sauce.

Ingredients for homemade Chipotle Puree

• 2-3 cups of water (doesn't need to be filtered)
• 4 ounces chipotles (take of the stems) [can be 5-10 chilies]
• 1/2 cup onion, cut in 1/2-inch slices  
• 2 tablespoons achiote paste *
• 1/2 cup of tomato paste
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar (I just use the cheap garlic flavored stuff from walmart)
• 1 teaspoon of salt (The mamasitos recipe calls for 2, I use 1)
• 1/4 cup olive oil (again flavor is good, but you can skimp here)

Step for making homemade Chipotle Puree

Mix all the ingredients in a small pot of the stove and bring to a boil. Turn down low and simmer an hour. Cool for an hour and puree the mixture in a blender, food processor , or like I use my small Braun hand wand chopper.

Sometimes I simmer the chiles and onion for 30 minutes, then puree them. Then I put them back in the pot with the other ingredients, mix well, and simmer till the volume reduces by half, another hour or so. I also use the baby crock pot for this.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Quick tips:

You may want to, if your really short on time, just use a can of Chipotles in Adobo Sauce, and puree them in a small blender, food processor, chopper thingie.

We will see recipes that use this over the next couple of months.

http://foodiemama.com/Canning-and-Preserving-Food/Achoite-Paste.html 

Photos of Chipotles in Adobo Sauce, Canned in May 2008 copyright Michael Gokey 20080821

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