Chili Powder Recipe
Chili Powder Recipe – Spice up your favorite dishes with homemade chili powder. It’s more than ground dried chiles because it’s bursting with fantastic flavors and an intoxicating aroma from cumin, Mexican oregano, coriander, and more. Super easy and preservative-free!
You already know how much I love spice. Some time ago, I realized I didn’t have any chili powder after already starting to cook up a storm. Homemade to the rescue, and I’ve never looked back.
You can customize this spice blend to suit your taste, whether you like it flame-throwing hot or mild, with or without salt, or whatever pleases you. Plus, you can be 100% sure it doesn’t contain additives because it’s homemade.
Content…The Beauty of it All |
The Beauty of Chili Powder
Chili powder is a popular spice blend that kicks up any dish a few notches on the flavor scale. The vibrant reddish hue from the ground anchos, paprika, and cayenne powder makes it as beautiful as it is mouthwateringly good.
Popular brands, like McCormick and Gebhardt, often contain cumin, Mexican oregano, coriander, garlic, and onion powder. On the other hand, some are made from pure ancho, cayenne, or guajillo without any added herbs and spices. Either way, this versatile spice mix is a staple in my pantry.
Recipe Ingredients
You can use many types of chili to make this recipe, but it will mostly depend on which kind you have available in your area. For my recipe, you’ll need the following.
- Ancho Chili – This chili is moderately spicy and has a sweet flavor. It will give our dish the right amount of heat, not too overpowering.
- Paprika and Cayenne – These two are essential spices to our spice blend because they boost the spicy level and add a dark red color. Paprika is mild, and cayenne is hot, so you can customize the heat level by adjusting the amount of your preferred spice.
- Other Spices – Garlic and onion add their special touch, coriander has a slight lemony flavor that adds depth, and cumin and oregano definitely add a Mexican flair.
How to Make Chili Powder
- One Easy Step – Combine all the ingredients in a bowl until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined. Store in an airtight container (or ziplock bag) and use it for your recipes.
Recipe Variations
- Its versatility makes this homemade spice blend an excellent substitute for a store-bought jar. And if this recipe isn’t enough, I’ve got you covered with a list of chili powder substitutes for your convenience. 😍
- Pepper Swap – I used ancho chili for this recipe, but if you find it too mild, use dried serrano instead. It’s up to 8x hotter than ancho chili. You can also use ground cayenne pepper. It’s up to you to make it spicier and double the amount.
- Pepper Combo – A combination of paprika, cayenne pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes will do the trick for quick replacement. I really like smoked paprika for an extra kick.
- Cocoa Powder – Yes, I know we usually use cocoa powder for desserts but adding it to our chili powder works like magic. It adds a layer of tasty richness. Think a rich mole sauce.
Tips and Tricks
- You can put some into a shaker with a lid for easier access.
- Place a food-safe silica gel packet into the chili powder container to avoid clumping.
- You can omit the cayenne pepper or replace it with paprika if you don’t want the heat.
Storage Instructions
To maximize your chili powder’s shelf life, store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness for up to three years. I know it’s tempting to have your spices right next to the stove, but it’s best to keep spices away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture.
FAQs
That depends more on your tastes, which makes homemade best 😉. I like to look on Amazon to see how other people rate different spice blends. McCormick consistently won 5 stars, and Watkins (I’d never heard of them before) also got a 5-star rating.
Cayenne is a hot pepper used extensively in Asian food, and it’s usually hotter than a chili powder blend. However, it lacks complex flavors from the additional herbs and spices.
Paprika is a type of mild pepper from Hungary or Spain. On the other hand, chili powder combines chili peppers, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder. And it’s usually hotter than paprika.
Ways to Use Chili Powder
Adding this spiciness to sliced fruits and vegetables is a new trend. They usually use grounded pequin or chiltepin chili with salt to add a spicy twist to fresh fruits like mango, pineapple, and watermelon. Tajin seasoning works great in fruits and vegetables, too.
More Amazing Homemade Seasoning Recipes
Conclusion
Save yourself some pennies and trip to the grocery store with my homemade chili powder recipe. Are you hungry for more deliciously spicy recipes? Check out my 12 Easy and Juicy Grilled Chicken Recipes to satisfy your craving.❤️
Chili Powder Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon ground ancho chile
- ¼ cup smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano, dried
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Store in an airtight container (or ziplock bag) and start using it for your recipes.
This is one of my favorites when I make Quick Chili during the week. I add 2 tsp of white pepper to the mix. I then put it a skillet and heat until it just starts to smoke a bit. The heat “wakes up” the oils in the spices. Now add to the pot and let it stew for an hour.
Ooooh, that sounds like a flavor boost! Love the white pepper addition, and toasting the spices? Genius move! Bet that chili is next-level delicious. Thanks for sharing your tip—I might just have to try it myself!
Thanks Glenn!!