Sometimes you really do have to slap yourself on the forehead and say I shoulda had a V-8. Ha – who remembers that commercial? Yep, I’m old but that’s what I thought about when I figured out how to save myself some time and effort.
You see…we eat a LOT of food that includes Chipotle Chile in Adobo. It brings out some awesome flavors. Each time I needed some I was getting out the can or the container I’d put the left over can in, then selecting a pepper or two, guessing how much chipotle and adobo would result after mincing up the chiles, getting out measuring spoons to get the “right” amount – and making and cleaning my chopping block each time I needed one or two peppers.
Instead – I now zip up the whole can once (duh !) and then store the rest in my fridge in an airtight container – and I write the date on the top of the container (on tape) to be sure I don’t leave the chilies in the fridge “too long”. And, when I say “zip up” I mean mince the entire can using a mini food processor in about 2 minutes. I swear – it probably takes longer to clean the mini processor, than it does to ‘zip’ it up!
By now – you may be asking – why is this such a big deal? The answer is – the complexity and depth of flavor you can achieve in southwestern / mexican food is ah-mazing after you’ve added a chipotle pepper. Having quick and easy, mess free access to 1 tsp or 3 tsp or whatever measurement you need, on any particular day is quite helpful!
How best to describe Chipotle Peppers?
As I was writing this I decided to ask Chat GPT thinking it would help me use some key words. Then I read what it had produced – and thought, surely I could not do better – so here’s what the warlord robot said:
Chipotle chilies in adobo sauce are a key ingredient in Mexican and Latin American cuisine. They are smoked and dried jalapeño peppers that have been rehydrated and preserved in a tangy, slightly sweet, and smoky tomato-based sauce. The adobo sauce typically consists of vinegar, garlic, onions, herbs, and spices, which infuse the chipotle peppers with robust flavor.
Chat GPT
The chipotle chilies themselves have a distinct smoky taste with a moderate level of heat, making them popular for adding depth and complexity to various dishes. They are often used to spice up salsas, sauces, marinades, and stews, including the famous chipotle chili.
Chipotle chilies in adobo are available in cans or jars at many grocery stores and are a versatile pantry staple for adding a spicy kick and rich flavor to your cooking
Well – that all sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Righto – that’s why I use it a lot.
It’s the small things that make this girl happy.
How long can you keep the zipped up can in the fridge?
The Chipotles have vinegar in there and I’ve had some in my fridge a long time and I’ve not yet died… BUT – I just did the google dance and asked how long you could keep Chipotle opened, in the fridge and they said 1 week?!?! Yeah, I keep mine longer than that. Ha. BUT – they also said once you zipped it up (apparently it wasn’t an original idea) you could freeze it by tablespoons on parchment (think like cookie dough on a sheet pan) and then once firm – toss them into a zip lock bag and into the freezer. Then any time you need a tablespoon just pluck one puck out of the bag. That would probably be a safer bet. But, you do you, boo.
