Solaryellow's Chipotle Powder Factory

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solaryellow

Master of the Pit
Original poster
SMF Premier Member
Jul 26, 2009
2,893
63
Orlando, FL
The last batch of chipotle powder has been processed for the year. I use a lot of chipotle so it only made sense to make my own. Here is how to do it.

First, I smoke the ripe (red) jalapenos with mesquite for about 4 - 5 hours. I do a heavy smoke using a 10" cast iron pan full of mesquite chunks over a 1000W hotplate in my plywood smoker. After smoking, I put a small fan in the bottom of the plywood smoker and fully open the vents for airflow. During the warmer months it will only take a week to dry the peppers out. When temps drop below 70* I add a hotplate to keep temps around 90*.

I use some stainless steel racks during the smoking and drying phase to keep the peppers from rolling up and trapping moisture on the inside.

bb6c2e28_DSC_0003.jpg


When they go into the smoker they are butted up against each other. You can see how much they shrink during dehydration.

62410eb0_DSC_0004.jpg


889d1b4c_DSC_0001_004.jpg


And into the "spice mill" (really a coffee grinder) the dried and smoked peppers go.

f2b13382_DSC_0007_003.jpg


After a couple grinds we end up with chipotle powder.

f48cf9a4_DSC_0011_003.jpg


Packaged up to share with a friend.

69113d69_DSC_0015_003.jpg
 
The last batch of chipotle powder has been processed for the year. I use a lot of chipotle so it only made sense to make my own. Here is how to do it.

First, I smoke the ripe (red) jalapenos with mesquite for about 4 - 5 hours. I do a heavy smoke using a 10" cast iron pan full of mesquite chunks over a 1000W hotplate in my plywood smoker. After smoking, I put a small fan in the bottom of the plywood smoker and fully open the vents for airflow. During the warmer months it will only take a week to dry the peppers out. When temps drop below 70* I add a hotplate to keep temps around 90*.

I use some stainless steel racks during the smoking and drying phase to keep the peppers from rolling up and trapping moisture on the inside.

bb6c2e28_DSC_0003.jpg


When they go into the smoker they are butted up against each other. You can see how much they shrink during dehydration.

62410eb0_DSC_0004.jpg


889d1b4c_DSC_0001_004.jpg


And into the "spice mill" (really a coffee grinder) the dried and smoked peppers go.

f2b13382_DSC_0007_003.jpg


After a couple grinds we end up with chipotle powder.

f48cf9a4_DSC_0011_003.jpg


Packaged up to share with a friend.

69113d69_DSC_0015_003.jpg
Looks great. Hopefully the person who you give that bottle to realizes that its not a dyed nutmeg
icon_mrgreen.gif
 
I'm in Minnesota, and Red Jalapenos are not available.

I would Love to make my own Chipotle Powder....

TJ
 
Thanks for the great post, nothing beats home grown. It's all good my friend.
 
I'm in Minnesota, and Red Jalapenos are not available.

I would Love to make my own Chipotle Powder....

TJ
had a bumper crop of jalepenos this year Todd, i got some all nice and red rite from the plants waiting to be smoked and ground up just like solar did. this was kinda a wierd year in the garden this year,,, would guess almost 2 weeks early so was able to get ripe(red) ones straight from the plant this year.
 
 
Solar, this looks so cool! I really want to try this. If I smoked them in my WSM at 225*, then put them in the dehydrator, would that get the job done?


225* seems a bit high to me. When I smoke them I see temps around 110* or so using the hot plate and cast iron pan full of mesquite chunks. If you can lower the temps I can guarantee they will turn out great. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. Good luck Dru!
 
Do you halve them and remove the seeds?  If so do you do it before smoking or after smoking and before drying?

Al
 
Do you halve them and remove the seeds?  If so do you do it before smoking or after smoking and before drying?

Al


When I first started I did remove the membrane and seeds. What I ended up with was a very flavorful chipotle without much kick. I started leaving the seeds and membrane in and got the kick I was looking for. I cut about 1/8" below the stem and then halve them prior to smoking.
 
I'm in Minnesota, and Red Jalapenos are not available.

I would Love to make my own Chipotle Powder....

TJ
This year my jalapenos didn't have time to turn red so I smoked a bunch of green ones then dehydrated them.  Not quite the same as the red ones, but still a great taste!
 
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