Pantry Must-Have: Chipotles in Adobo Sauce

Chipotles in Adobo Sauce have become a staple in my kitchen. I purchased my first can a few years back when I was making Rachael Ray’s Ultimate Burger. The sauce for said burger calls for the following ingredients (and it’s delicious):

• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 chipotle in adobo, chopped, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped dill
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives

After I’d used the single chipotle the recipe called for, I had many left over and didn’t know what to do with them. So I wrapped them individually in wax paper and froze them. Over the next several weeks, I’d take one out and chop it (no need to unfreeze) before adding it to a big pot of chili or tortilla soup for an awesome, smoky kick.

So what exactly are chipotles in adobo sauce? I like this description from Gourmet Sleuth:

Chipotle chiles (smoked jalapeno chiles) are canned in a red sauce that typically contains tomato puree, paprika, salt, onions, oil, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves and oregano. Used for making sauces, chipotle mayonaise, rubs as well as other recipes.

I now make a point of keeping them on hand and add them to homemade salsa and marinades. I know they can also be used in salad dressings and aioli (which is delish with sweet potato fries). And since my husband and I have fallen into the habit of eating veggie quesadillas or burritos once a week, I’ve learned to make a little sauce that gives our makeshift Mexican a muy authentico flair.

Makeshift Mexican Sauce
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 tsp cumin
1 bay leaf
1 chipotle (I use one of my wax-papered frozen ones)
Water to taste

1. Heat the olive oil over medium.
2. Add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add tomato sauce, cumin, bay leaf, and chipotle.
4. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, and adding water until the sauce reaches desired consistency.

Remove bay leaf and chipotle and serve on top of quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, or tamales.

On top of being very easy to use, one little can of chipotles goes a long way, and they give your meals distinctive flavor for just a bit of cash. (Case in point: Amazon’s showing a 7 ounce can for $3.09.) Chipotles in Adobo Sauce are also available in the Latin sections of many supermarkets.

So what do you think of this ingredient? Is it a must-have for you? And how do you like to use it?

Photo from Amazon.com.