Four Ways to Use Dried Chile Peppers

Dried chile peppers can add a new dimension to nearly any food. From meats and seafood to vegetables and chocolate, this versatile spice can turn ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary delights.

The wonderful thing about cooking with dried chile peppers is you can control the level of heat. People often shy away from adding hot chile peppers for fear of overpowering the dish. Learning about the different chile types is very beneficial. A good source for learning about and buying dried chiles is MarxFoods.com.

Dried Chile Powder

One of the easiest ways to incorporate dried chiles into meal preparation is via freshly ground chile powder. Making homemade chile powder involves roasting whole dried peppers and grinding them into powder. The process takes less than 10 minutes to make a batch.

It is fun to experiment making batches of chile powders. You can create a variety of heat levels by combining two or more chiles or combine with other spices to make meat rubs or marinades. Chile powder stored in airtight containers at room temperature will stay fresh for over a year. FamilyOven.com offers dozens of homemade chile powder recipes.

Chile Paste

Chile paste is a very versatile product. It can be used on its own, combined with condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, added to baked goods, and used in stir-fry recipes.

Making homemade chile paste is easy and only requires a small food processor or coffee grinder. Dried chiles are reconstituted in boiling water for 30 minutes and pureed into a paste. Chile paste will stay fresh for about 10 days when covered and stored in the refrigerator.

Chile paste can be added to crackers and topped with deli meats, fresh vegetables, and cheeses for a tasty appetizer. Combined with other ingredients, chile paste makes an excellent meat rub. Fresh chile paste is the perfect accompaniment with Thai and Asian-inspired dishes. One of my favorite sources for chile paste recipes is iFood.tv.

Chile-Infused Oil

The uses for chile-infused oil are endless. From sautéing foods to salad dressings and bread dipping oils to meat and vegetable marinades, infused oils make it easy to spice up your food.

A good source for learning how to make chile-infused oil is SeriousEats.com. This site not only shares oil-infusion recipes, but also chile-infused honey and chile-infused vinegar recipes.

Homemade chile oils make a great gift for any occasion. However, it's important to properly prepare flavored oils to prevent botulism. CreativeGiftsByYou.com provides food safety procedures, gift packaging tips, and infused oil recipes.

Chile-Infused Vinegar

Making chile-infused vinegar is so easy you'll wonder why you haven't done it before. All that is required is to bring white vinegar to a boil; turn off the heat; add whole dried chiles; and steep for an hour or two.

The U.K.-based website, Allotment Vegetable Growing, offers a step-by-step guide to making flavored vinegars, along with food safety precautions, storage tips, and recipes.

Infused vinegar can be substituted in any recipe calling for the use of vinegar. Flavored vinegar makes the perfect addition to fresh garden salads or homemade mayonnaise-based salad dressings. They're ideal for pickling and brines. Infused vinegar makes a good substitution for oils used in meat marinades and make for flavorful puddings and sauces.

In addition to heightening the flavor of foods, chile peppers offer a bounty of health benefits. According to WHFoods.com, chiles fight inflammation, offer natural pain relief, reduce blood cholesterol, boost immunity, prevent ulcers, and are an effective and natural weight loss remedy.