help! where to get chipotle chile in adobo sauce

[iluvtennis]

Ok...hope this isn't a really stupid question, but i just got married and am learning how to cook. I have a recipe calling for chipotle chile in adobo sauce...can i buy this somewhere? What part of the grocery store? Or do i have to make this myself? Help! Thanks!

[iluvtennis]

Thanks everyone...i did find them on the ethnic food aisle...i used them to make a smoky tomato soup...everyone loved it!

[Sam Fujisaka]

I loved the direct and to the point question you posed and your equally succinct follow up. I doubt you'll ever have trouble cooking (or maintaining a great marriage).

[soulslinger]

iluvtennis,

I suppose you must be in Denton, TX.....Try Sack N Save close to UNT on Ave C....should be in a white and blue can. I will let you know the brand name later

[soulslinger]

San Marcos brand...below is a link to the picture. Those are the ones I use

http://www.mexgrocer.com/1378.html

[Gualtier Malde]

I just came up with that need, also, for a SW dish called Gratin of the Three Sisters. Gratin doesn't sound SW to me. Anyway it calls for chipotle in adobo sauce and I understand that it is pretty peppery, and therefore I can't eat it (doctor orders). So if you don't find that, what might be a substitute with minimal heat (not none, just "one star")?

[paulj]

Any hot sauce to taste can substitute for chipotle, especially if the recipe just calls for a teaspoon or two of the adobo sauce. The main thing that this adds, beyond the heat, is some smokiness. Chipotle is a smoke dried jalapeño pepper. Chipotle in adobo is the chipotle canned in a tomato sauce, to which it lends its heat. Different brands use different sauces, and have slightly different flavors. Chipotle flavored hot sauces are pretty common as well.

paulj

[torty]

Smoked paprika?

[hohokam]

Smoky note for sure, but overall different flavor profile.

I wonder if using just some of the sauce from the canned chipotles would be mild enough to meet Gualtier's criterion?

[toodie jane]

when I don't have any chipotle (chip-oat-lay) peppers, I cheat and use any good spicy red taco sauce with a few drops of liquid smoke. It'll do in a pinch.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Chi - poat - lay

[toodie jane]

or chee poht lay ;) better than chi- pole-tay, eh? or chi-pottle!

[hohokam]

I confess, this subthread left me feeling like I'm missing out on some inside joke.

Did my post read as if I needed guidance as to how to pronounce the word?

[Sam Fujisaka]

No, not at all. Sorry, just some old nutters gone astray.

[hohokam]

Got it. :-)

[DuffyH]

In my teen years in SoCal I worked summers in a taco stand. Had people order some mighty strange items, none of them on our menu. There were tay-koes, toe-stee-toes, and my all-time favorite, an add-on called goo-ka-stuff.

I'm guessing they were touristas. :)

[Eat_Nopal]

Gratins are pretty common in Mexico... Calabacitas aka Mexican Zucchini aka Courgettes are common version... 3 Sisters doesn't sound as appealing.

The Mexican Adobos are the ancestors of American BBQ sauce... its a similar concept long cooked tomatoes, black pepper & sweet spices, dried herbs like Mexican oregano, roasted tomates & garlic... a major difference is that Mexican cooking usually derives its sweetness from roasting tomatoes & onions rather than from sugar or molasses so its less sweet.

You can use mildish Anchos with a little bit of reconstituted dried chipotles to achieve just a little heat.

[Gualtier Malde]

Thanks to all. Meanwhile my son did suggest using tomato sauce and Tabasco chipotle sauce in quantity sufficient to the proper amount of taste and heat.

Eat Nopal: We might have gotten our recipe from one of those slim paper-bound cookbooks. We have to do this recipe today or tomorrow morning for sure to take to a potluck. I do have Diana Kennedy's "My Mexico" and will try to find a more authentic version. Meanwhile would you point me to one? Thank you.

[MidwesternerTT]

old topic - sry.

[paulj]

Sounds like this is something you haven't used before. In which case I should warn you that it is pretty hot, especially by typical American standards. So taste and use with caution. Put what you don't need for this recipe in a small jar. It keeps very well in the fridge. A small spoon of the sauce is a good substitute for bottled hot sauce.

paulj

[mark]

it should be in any grocery that has an ethnic/mexican food section. look near the salsas, canned chile peppers, etc.

[jsaimd]

Usually in the Mexican food section - in small cans. Near the refried beans, enchilada sauce if you live in a place without a large section.