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Yes! You can MAKE smokey chipotle powder spice! I know…I was so surprised when I found out exactly what chipotle is. Who knew? Ok, a bunch of you already knew this. But for the folks who love it and didn’t know; chipotle is simply smoked jalapeño!
What?!
Yes, smoked jalapeño! You literally throw some jalapeño on the smoker until they are dry and black, then grind them up!
How do I Use DIY Smokey Chipotle Powder Spice?
You can use it for so many things! From sprinkling on your breakfast eggs to chipotle sour cream for fish tacos. Anything you use black pepper for, you can use chipotle as a replacement or in addition to. However, Chipotle is nothing like black pepper. It has a smokey, spicy, earthy, rich taste. And, sometimes you get a slight sweetness.
It’s a great addition to homemade salsa too!
It makes a great fry sauce when mixed with mayo and barbecue sauce. SO good! We also put this fry sauce on steak and pepper sandwiches. It is without a doubt the perfect complement to the sweet peppers and tangy steak.
Health Benefits
First, and most obvious health benefit of this DIY, would be the lack of chemical processing. This particular batch of chipotle was made from organic jalapeños that I grew in my own garden. I know exactly how they were grown and processed. No additives or fillers. Just straight up smoked jalapeños!
Additional health benefits include:
- Certain types of cancer prevention
- Aids with digestion
- Reduction in heart disease
- Reduce inflammation
- Diabetes management
What Makes it So Great?
Capsaicin, the star of this jalapeño health show! Capsaicin is an active component of chili peppers. It’s what makes it feel HOT on the tongue. This one component is responsible for the above-mentioned health benefits!
Studies have shown that capsaicin prevents the formation of cancer! It literally stops healthy cells from transforming into cancer cells. You can read more about that here.
Here is an interesting little tidbit of info about capsaicin being beneficial for ulcers! The Doc used to say stay away from spicy food if you have ulcers. Hmmmm!
Capsaicin reduces those little artery-clogging buggers, cholesterol, and triglycerides. It widens and relaxes blood vessels which can lower blood pressure. Which reduces the risk of heart disease!
It has also been found to reduce blood sugar in rats! Incredible!
And, let’s not forget the anti-inflammatory benefits of capsaicin! I’m sure you’ve heard of capsaicin cream for arthritis.
Money Savings of DIY Smokey Chipotle Spice
Taking a little time to DIY can mean huge cash savings! Every little bit starts to add up. Diy has probably been the single best budget tool we have. By learning a new skill or using what we already know, we are able to stay within our budget consistently. Staying within a budget has made my 17-year stay at home mom/homemaker journey possible.
You can buy Simply Organic Chipotle powder here on Amazon at $6.71 for 2.65 oz. This is a fairly reasonable price for organic chipotle powder. If I hadn’t learned from my Aunt Linda how to make my own, I would buy it on Amazon!
I will spare you all the exciting boring math details! However, I will tell you I have done the math and the savings are absurd. Especially if you grow your own! Choosing to grow your own organic jalapeños to make chipotle, would cost you about $.80! Eighty cents for a full 8 oz of chipotle powder! So, the choice is clear. You can pay $2.53 per oz (FYI one ounce is only 2 Tbs) of storebought organic chipotle. Or, you can pay $.10 per oz of homegrown DIY smokey chipotle powder spice.
Even if you decided to purchase nonorganic jalapeños on sale. Your savings would be well worth it. It is way too easy to not make your own!
Storage
I like to keep the finished product as well as other DIY spice mixes in these itty bitty mason jars! Also, I love them for my homemade Instant Pot Vanilla yogurt :)…New post coming soon!
These lids are great for an easy sprinkling of my DIY chipotle power! I love them! ♥
Adorable right?!
First…
get your smoker preheating! Smoke is most definitely a requirement when making this smokey chipotle powder spice. Your smoking temp will be 200-250°F.
Meanwhile, wash the jalapeños. There is no need to cut them, you will put them right on the smoker whole.
I really like applewood for just about EVERYTHING, when it comes to smoking.
Cherry, Hickory, and Mesquite are excellent choices as well!
Use whatever you prefer! Just make sure you don’t use the wrong wood! You NEVER want to use wood that has been chemically treated or has been painted or stained. Not only will it make whatever food you’re smoking taste bad, but it can also be hazardous to your health. Avoid wood from conifers such as pine, redwood, fir, spruce, cypress, or cedar. These trees have lots of sap which will cause a funny taste and can make people sick.
Fruit woods are always a great choice. Apple, cherry, apricot, pear, etc. create a lighter smoke taste. Heavier smoke woods that are great for meats are hickory, pecan, oak, maple, and even birch.
Next…
depending on your smoker you’ll want to use chips or use a hatchet to make small kindling size pieces. Place them directly on the electric smokers’ burner. You will want heavy smoke for this application. More wood=heavy smoke. Less wood=light smoke. Keep the smoke constant for about an hour. Once the first application of wood is burned up, add more.
I use an electric smoker that doesn’t have a temperature setting. However, last time I smoked some jalapeños my thermometer read 250°F. Therefore I’m suggesting that temp if you have a temp setting on your smoker. It only takes about an hour or two. It can take up to four hours if your smoker has issues holding a temp. You just have to keep checking on them. Once they are black and completely dried out, they’re done! You will think you burnt them, they will look really bad, but I promise you they are not burnt!
At this point, they are similar in texture to dried Ancho Chilies except for lighter and paper-thin. You’ll want to be careful not to crush them when removing them from the smoker.
Finally…
it’s time to grind them! Remove the stems first but keep all those seeds. I keep an extra coffee grinder on hand just for spices.
Or a Mortar and Pestle!
Be careful not to inhale those spicy chipotle dust particles. A mask might be a good idea. Or even better, take it outside. 🙂 I hope you enjoy this do it yourself smokey chipotle powder spice as much as I do! There is something so satisfying about making it yourself.
Do you have any DIY spices or spice mixes you use regularly?
🙂 Leigh Ann
Leigh Ann
Leigh Ann Schooley is the owner and founder of Making My Abode, a blog dedicated to helping homemakers live well and simply on one income. She is a believer, wife, and mother of three with more than sixteen years of homemaking experience. Leigh Ann is the recipient of the Wife of The Year award eighteen years running. She has also won the Mother of The Year award every year for the past sixteen years. She is a Colorado native raised by her dad who taught her almost everything she knows. Leigh Ann lives with her husband and family in Colorado.
