Ancho Chili Powder Uses

Ancho chili powder is a spice made from dried poblano peppers. It has a smoky and sweet flavor with mild to medium heat.

You can add flavor and color to many dishes, such as meats, salsas, dips, guacamole, beans, rice, vegetables, cocktails, baked goods, and even ice cream.

Table of Contents

Marinating Meats

Ancho chili powder adds flavor and tenderness to meats like beef, pork, and chicken. Rub it on the meat or make a marinade with oil, vinegar, lime juice, garlic, and salt.

Here are some dishes that use ancho chili powder marinade:

Beef

Ancho chili steak: Sprinkle ancho, salt, pepper, and garlic powder on the steak.

Grill or pan-fry as you like.

Ancho beef jerky: Cut beef thin and soak in ancho powder, soy sauce, brown sugar, liquid smoke, onion powder, and garlic powder.

Dry in oven or dehydrator until chewy.

Ancho chili burgers: Mix ancho chili powder, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder with ground beef.

Make patties and grill or pan-fry.

Add your favorite toppings.

Pork

ancho chili pork chops: To make ancho chili pork chops, coat both sides of the chops with ancho powder, salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano.

Then grill or bake them until done.

Ancho chili pork roast: rub a pork loin or shoulder roast with ancho powder, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and brown sugar.

Put it in a slow cooker with chicken broth, onion, garlic, and bay leaves.

Cook on low for 8 hours or until it falls apart. Serve the shredded meat with tortillas or rice.

Chicken

Ancho chicken wings: Bake chicken wings with ancho, salt, pepper, and baking powder until crispy.

Enjoy them with ranch dressing or blue cheese dip.

Ancho chicken fajitas: Slice chicken breasts thinly and marinate them in ancho powder, lime juice, oil, salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic.

Salsas, Dips, and Guacamole

Ancho chili powder gives salsas, dips, and guacamole a smoky and spicy flavor.

You can sprinkle it as a seasoning or make a smooth sauce by blending it with other ingredients.

Ancho in salsas, dips, and guacamole:

Ancho chili salsa: Blend ancho, canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and sugar.

Make it as spicy as you like by adjusting the amount of ancho.

Creamy ancho chili dip: Combine ancho chili powder with sour cream, mayonnaise, cream cheese, garlic powder,
onion powder, and salt.

Enjoy this creamy dip with tortilla chips, crackers, or fresh veggies.

Spicy ancho guacamole: Mash avocados with ancho, lime juice, salt, cumin, garlic, and cilantro for spicy guacamole.

Add some chopped tomato and onion for more texture and taste.

Serve with tortilla chips or on tacos or burritos.

Beans, Rice, and Vegetable Dishes

Ancho gives a rich and complex taste to beans, rice, and veggies.

You can sprinkle it on food or make a sauce or stew.

Here are some dishes with ancho chili powder and beans, rice, or veggies:

Ancho chili beans: Soak pinto beans overnight and cook them with water, ancho, salt, bay leaves, garlic, and onion.

Drain them and add tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, and mustard for a tangy and smoky sauce.

Enjoy as a side or with rice.

Mexican rice with ancho and tomatoes: Heat oil and fry rice with ancho, salt, cumin, and garlic until golden.

Pour chicken broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, and peas and boil.

Lower the heat and cook until the rice is done and the liquid is gone.

Fluff with a fork and top with cilantro.

Roasted root veggies with ancho chili honey glaze: Cut veggies like carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and beets into small pieces.

Mix with oil, salt, pepper, and thyme and put on a baking sheet.

Mixing into Cocktails

Ancho chili powder adds a smoky and spicy touch to your drinks.

Try these refreshing and delicious cocktails:

Smoky ancho chili margarita: Mix tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, simple syrup, and a pinch of ancho in a shaker with ice.

Shake well and strain into a salt-rimmed glass.

Add a lime wedge, and enjoy.

Ancho chili Mexican chocolate Martini: Heat milk, chocolate syrup, and a dash of ancho in a small saucepan over low heat until smooth and warm.

Transfer to a blender and add vodka and coffee liqueur.

Blend until frothy and pour into chilled martini glasses.

Sprinkle with more ancho powder if you like.

Baking Savory Goods

You can also use ancho chili powder to flavor savory baked goods like cornbread, empanadas, and tortilla chips.

Here are some ideas:

Cornbread: Add some ancho to your cornbread recipe for a spicy twist.

You can add cheese, corn kernels, or jalapeños for more flavor and texture.

Empanadas: Make a filling of ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and ancho.

Put some filling on circles of pie dough and fold them over.

Seal the edges with a fork and bake until golden.

Serve with salsa or sour cream.

Tortilla chips: Cut corn tortillas into wedges and toss them with oil and ancho powder.

Spread them on a baking sheet and bake until crisp.

Enjoy with guacamole, salsa, or cheese dip.

Making Sweet Treats Spicy-Hot

Ancho adds heat and complexity to sweet treats like brownies, cookies, and ice cream.

Try these ideas:

Ancho chili brownies: Spice up your brownie batter with ancho.

Add chocolate chips or nuts for more texture.

Ancho chili chocolate chip cookies: Give your chocolate chip cookies a smoky flavor by adding a little ancho powder.

Use dark chocolate for a richer taste.

Spicy ancho ice cream: Whisk milk, cream, sugar, salt, vanilla, and ancho powder in a saucepan.

Boil over medium-high heat, then simmer for 10 minutes.

Chill for 4 hours or more.

Churn in an ice cream maker and freeze until firm.

Ancho Chili Powder Uses FAQ

Here are some tips and tricks for using ancho chili powder:

What can I cook with ancho chili powder?

It is a great spice to add flavor and depth to many dishes.

You can use it to spice up meats, soups, stews, sauces, dips, marinades, rubs, dressings, and more.

Some dishes that go well with ancho are:

Chili con carne
Enchiladas
Mole sauce
Taco meat
Cornbread
Roasted vegetables
Chicken tortilla soup

How much ancho chili powder do I need?

The amount you need depends on your taste and the recipe you follow.

Usually, you can start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per serving and adjust as needed.

Remember that ancho chili powder is not very spicy, so you may need more or less depending on how hot you want your food.

How do I store ancho chili powder?

It should be kept in a sealed container in a cool, dark, and dry place.

Avoid heat, light, or moisture, as they can ruin its flavor and quality.

Ancho can stay fresh for up to two years if stored well.

What if I don't have ancho chili powder?

It gives a unique taste to your dishes.

It's not easy to find another spice that matches it.

But you can use other options close to heat and smokiness.

Here are some of them:

Conclusion

Ancho chili powder is a versatile spice that adds flavor, heat, and color to many dishes. It has a mild but smoky taste that goes well with meat, beans, rice, veggies, and more. You can make salsas, dips, guacamole, cocktails, and baked goods. It gives a Mexican touch to simple recipes and enhances complex ones.

You can store ancho for a long time and use it in many ways. Sprinkle it on snacks, blend it into sauces, or rub it on meats. It's a must-have spice for your kitchen. It makes your food warm and rich with the smell and taste of sun-dried chilies.