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The New Mexico Chile peppers are known to have beautiful, dark red and smooth pods that are mostly used extensively in various Mexican cuisines.
The chile flavor of this pepper familiarizes with the peppers used in making enchiladas, tamales, soups, and even stews, as the peppers are known to be one of the best chile peppers you could get in Mexico. New Mexican chiles are very available in most Mexican supermarkets, or even Mexican markets and neighboring Mexican stores.
But if you still can’t find them from any of these places, you can easily get them online or just settle for suitable new Mexico chile substitutes that you can easily get around you, such as California chile and anchor chile.
What Is New Mexico Chile?
Most Chile peppers come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from small to big and different cultivars that are being cultivated at different times.
The new Mexican Chile originates from the fruits of the new Mexican Chile plants produced from the seeds of the peppers and harvested fresh to produce the new Mexican Chile.
The New Mexico Chile has become a popular household Chile in Mexico that is excellent for adding spice to almost every Mexican cuisine.
These peppers are given names based on where they were grown as they provide a large range of nutrition ranging from minerals to vitamins.
But it would be best if you were careful when adding them to your dish as excess new Mexican Chile can provide your tummy with a burning sensation and cause diarrhea in some people.
What Is New Mexican Chile Used For?
People who love spicy food would testify that Mexican Chile is indeed one of the best chiles anyone can come across.
Due to the strong flavor and taste that the Mexican Chile has, many chefs ice to pass any hot and spicy Chile off as the new Mexican Chile. With its nice aroma and spiciness, new Mexican Chile is used as a spice in a lot of recipes for both sweet and savory dishes such as:
- New Mexican Chile sauce
- Anthony Bourdain’s new Mexican beef Chile.
- Roasted green Chile sauce
- Green chili with pork and roasted chiles
- Basic red Chile sauce
- Carne adovada and even lots more…
The heat level of this Chile ranges from mild to spicy in dishes depending on the quantity they are added. You can get this green pepper fruit in either roasted, dried, or canned varieties, and it is perfect for dishes like eggs, stews, and vegetables.
Best New Mexico Chile Substitutes
1. Ancho Chile
The ancho chiles are just the dried form of the poblano Chile peppers. When they are unripe, these peppers possess a green color, but as soon as they get ripe, they turn visibly red.
They usually ripen on the plat, and when they are harvested and left to dry, anchors are produced. The standard for drying these poblano peppers is under the sun.
These peppers possess a soy feel which is similar to that of the Mexican and southwestern dishes; these peppers have a wrinkly exterior that looks like that of the gigantic raisins and depending on the recipe, you might want to use more or fewer ancho chiles in place of the new Mexican Chile.
2. California Chile
The California chiles are also similar to the ancho chiles. They are dried Anaheim chiles commonly used in mild sauces or as seasonings in stews and soups. This pepper has a tart flavor with a bit of strong spice.
These peppers taste better when dried and are great for people with sensitive tastebuds. These peppers are commonly used to make Rellenos. In addition, when this Anaheim Chile dries up, it is referred to as the California Chile pepper.
These Chile are used in many breakfast burritos, and by adding the California Chile, you’re just adding a layer of tart and spiciness to your meal. You can use California Chile in the same proportion as New Mexico Chile in your recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Mexican Chile the Same as The Guajillo Chile?
These two peppers are not the same, and it Is not even advisable to substitute one for the other in recipes. The new Mexican Chile peppers are not as spicy as the guajillo peppers, so they are not a great choice to use in your dish if you are not opting for a very spicy dish.
What Is the Difference Between the New Mexican Chile Peppers and Chile Powder?
The major difference between these two is that the new Mexican Chile pepper is gotten from dried chiles, while the chili powder is made from a combination of many hot spices like cumin, oregano, and garlic powder which are then mixed until they blend in.
Are Mexican Chile and Ancho Chile the Same?
Even if both are dried chiles from their original peppers, they are not the same thing. The ancho chile is a dried and crushed form of the poblano, while the new Mexican Chile pepper is the dried form of the Anaheim pepper.
This pepper is referred to as the Anaheim pepper because they were originally grown in Anaheim, California.
Are Dried New Mexican Chiles Hot?
The heat level of this pepper is not fixed as the heat levels ranges in heat depending on the variety. The flavor of these peppers is generally classified as mid, so you won’t worry about it being too much or too less in certain cases.
What Do New Mexican Chiles Taste Like?
The new Mexican Chile has a slightly aromatic aroma, similar to onion or garlic, but possesses a sweet, spicy, and subtle taste. The ripened peppers maintain their earthy flavor while the old ones deliver a more back-heat taste.
Are Hatch Chiles and Anaheim Chiles the Same Thing?
These long hatch chiles are similar to the Anaheim chiles in looks. One could even mistake one for the other. The only major difference between these two is that the hatch chiles are hotter than the Anaheim chiles, making them unsuitable substitutes for the latter.
When shopping, you should be extra careful when picking them out because, with their very similar physical appearance, one could mistake the hatch chiles for Anaheim.
