There are a large number of chili powder blends on the market. They all contain very similar ingredients. Some are hotter or milder than others. They all have a flavor that may or may not be the flavor you prefer. As with other recipes you can have the preferred flavor with a few select adjustments.
After some experimentation I found the base I prefer to use when creating my blend. When I make it I usually add a little more or less of an ingredient or more to get the flavor I am looking for that time.
A Basic Chili Powder Recipe
The following recipe is the one I like to start with when creating a chili powder blend. Remember this is a starting point to get to your preferred flavors.
Chili Powder – Salt Free
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Paprika: Dried, ground (See Note 1)
- 2 teaspoons Cumin
- 2 teaspoons Oregano: Dried, ground
- 1 teaspoon Garlic: Powder
- 3/4 teaspoon Onion: Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne: Dried, ground – or to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and blend together.
- Using a spice grinder, grind the mixture to a powder.
- Store in an airtight container
Notes
Adjusting the Flavor
In order to get to the flavor you want you can use a lot of different ingredients. Since you are making chili powder you can use a dried ground version of any chili you like the flavor of. Each option will provide a different flavor, and/or hotness to the blend. If you like it really hot, you could add a touch or more of dried Habanero pepper powder. Other chili powders you could use, include but are not limited to: Ancho, Anaheim, Chipotle, Jalapeno, Serrano and Poblano. You can make your own powder by drying and then grinding the pepper you like.
Be Aware of the Scoville Heat Units
When using chili peppers be sure to consider the Scoville Heat Unit index. It can range anywhere from 1,000 to 3000,000. In this scale, the higher the number the hotter the chili. A lot of the most common chili pepper varieties fall in the 2,000 to 8,000 unit range. If, you are not familiar with the different varieties be careful which you use. Each type has a range affected by how they are grown and when they are picked.
Your Way
You can adjust the recipe to have the flavor and hotness you prefer. It will take a little practice to be able to achieve the balance so you can say, “I did Chili Powder My Way!”