Red chili powder

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

archeryrob

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
Oct 26, 2015
647
247
Western Maryland
Is this the same as Cayenne, or something else? I got a recipe I am working on and it said "red chili powder" and I used Ancho chili powder and it was bland.

Online reading is confusing me more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JLeonard
Red chili powder is a blended product, this is whats in McCormick's ; CHILI PEPPER, SPICES, SALT, SILICON DIOXIDE (ADDED TO MAKE FREE FLOWING), AND GARLIC.

ancho is a type of red chili, but alone its not super flavorful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: noboundaries
No. Cayenne is much more pungent and usually quite hot. There are many different blends of chili powder.
 
missed the Cheyenne question - its very hot. not even close to the same as red chili pow.
 
Gonna have to post the brand and labeling.

Chile Powder seasoning mix is a blend of chiles and other spices.

Red Chile Powder if not specifically labeled as the particular variety, e,g, Ancho, is most likely a blend of chiles.

Cayenne pepper is ground cayenne pepper,
Crushed Red Pepper is typically crushed cayenne peppers.

Paprika... That's a whole other subject.
 
Long story.....
I just made this dish... The flavor was AWESOME !!!
I'm a fan of Guajillo chilis now... If you can find them in the bag and dry more than they come in the bag, the grind them... Should be some awesome chili powder..
No heat to speak of just flavor.... Many spice houses carry them... I bought them from the Great American Spice company....

 
I get almost all my spices from this place. Very wide variety.
 
Long story.....
I just made this dish... The flavor was AWESOME !!!
I'm a fan of Guajillo chilis now... If you can find them in the bag and dry more than they come in the bag, the grind them... Should be some awesome chili powder..
No heat to speak of just flavor.... Many spice houses carry them... I bought them from the Great American Spice company....


I love using dried chili's. Lucky around here they everywhere. I even seen some in Brookshire's last week.
 
The wife made me a recipe and just has Red chili powder. The more I read it is varying from Mild to hot and with out picking a brand they are all different.
 
We have a large Latino community during the harvest season... W-M has a huge selection of chilis .... I buy the big bags and dry them further in the oven... then grind into powder.... Makes for some great mixed flavors or stand alone...

My collection....

DSCF0176.JPG

DSCF0177.JPG

DSCF0178.JPG

DSCF0179.JPG
 
Is this the same as Cayenne, or something else? I got a recipe I am working on and it said "red chili powder" and I used Ancho chili powder and it was bland.

Online reading is confusing me more.
I can see how it could be. But, I do know the red chili powder and Cayenne are not the same.
 
To me that recipe is asking for the generic store chili powder. It has it's place but there are some really tasty options, especially if you are into Mex or Tex Mex. I am slowly trying as many as I can. Very different results... So far, my favorite is new mexican red. Wife loves pasilla. A blend of a few is usually what we do. I prefer ground. Just grabbed some mulato to play with. https://www.diversivore.com/guide-to-mexican-chili-peppers/
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrianGSDTexoma
Is this the same as Cayenne, or something else? I got a recipe I am working on and it said "red chili powder" and I used Ancho chili powder and it was bland.

Online reading is confusing me more.

There are ground chile powders, and chile powder blends. Each have a different slightly different flavor or use. Ancho powder is generally made from a ripe (red) poblano. I also have the dried green version which is still called poblano chile powder. I have seen Ancho blends, so it's best to read the label. If you buy single grind powders you can make your own blend too..

We have a couple of blends and several single pepper grinds. Check out Pendery's selection of blend and single grinds. They must have 50 choices.
 
For a close replacement to cayenne powder you should search out Chile de arbol in powder form. The two are cousins, with the de arbol being more of a pure Chile flavor, they both are very spicy.
I make my andouille with Chile de arbol vs cayenne
 
I keep a wide variety of dried and prepared chiles in the pantry all the time.
Cayenne (powdered and crushed).
Ancho, Arbol, Guajillo, Pasilla, Hatch (hot and medium), Jalapeno, Habanero and a minced mix of several of the world's hottest chiles called 'Hillbilly Gunpowder'.
Paprika (hot, mild, smoked and sweet).

Today I used the arbol and guajillo powders in my red chile sauce for venison tacos.
 
To me that recipe is asking for the generic store chili powder. It has it's place but there are some really tasty options, especially if you are into Mex or Tex Mex. I am slowly trying as many as I can. Very different results... So far, my favorite is new mexican red. Wife loves pasilla. A blend of a few is usually what we do. I prefer ground. Just grabbed some mulato to play with. https://www.diversivore.com/guide-to-mexican-chili-peppers/

Nice article!

archeryrob archeryrob I'm no pepper aficionado but I have cooked with em to make Mexican and Tex-Mex sauces.
If I wanted to try and make a "red" chili powder I think I would take ancho, pasilla, and guajilo and dry them up and grind them into a powder. If you wanted some more heat I would add chile de arbol to that mix.
I think it would give you a better possibility of hitting the flavor u are wanting vs just going with ancho peppers.

Me personally, I would add some additional peppers but in TX I have a number of options more readily available to me. I have a direct source for chiletepin peppers which are HOT but the flavor is amazing!!! I also have some chipotle powder i made by smoking green jalapenos but I messed up and put them over the chiletepins when i smoked em all... the tepin oils rose with the smoke and made the chipotle peppers SCORTCHING HOT!!! The tepins are not nearly as hot since their oils floated up and into the jalapenos hahaha.

Finally, I've eaten red sauces that were made with New Mexico Red Chiles. The sauce is earthy and amazing but really tastes more like a true Mexican sauce not a Tex/Cali/Other US -Mex sauce. Maybe that is the red sauce you are actually needing vs just making a sauce from chili powder blends. Heres a new mexico red chili powder: https://www.olivenation.com/new-mex...xjGPxBSOsjFRZsAd80DfGWV2hvcW_caUaAofAEALw_wcB

I hope this gives some room for thought. Let us know where u land :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: zwiller
Red chili powder is a blended product, this is whats in McCormick's ; CHILI PEPPER, SPICES, SALT, SILICON DIOXIDE (ADDED TO MAKE FREE FLOWING), AND GARLIC.

I learned recently the point made above. Who knew? Sugar can be an ingredient, too.

I prefer to throw dried chilies in a blender and pulverize them to as close to powder as I can get. Fair warning, they can leave a red tint in your blender even after washing, but it wears off in time.
 
I think I just learned the term "red" chili powder is a rather ambiguous term. Its more what each separate spice mixer thinks, rather than a set type recipe.

I am still working on the Chorizo idea and lots of Ancho power was damn plain. I am thinking along this line and the recipe has paprika already and maybe still using the chili powder but reducing it and adding cayenne for kick. I have come to the assumption I can only trust "red" chili powder if I stay with one brand of it.
  • 2 tbsp. Ancho chile powder OR substitute with a combination of
  • 2 tbsp. paprika mixed with ½ tsp. cayenne powder OR
  • 2 tbsp. paprika mixed with 1 tsp. red chili powder
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky