• YIELDS | 3/4 CUP
  • PREP TIME | 15 MINS
  • COOK TIME | 5 MINS

I go through a lot of chili powder, and I like to make a big batch to use all year long. Making your own chili powder not only tastes amazing, it saves money and—bonus—it guarantees no preservatives, fillers, or other unwanted ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 3 dried ancho chiles, stemmed, seeded, and sliced
  • 3 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed, seeded, and sliced
  • 3 dried New Mexico chiles, stemmed, seeded, and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. Use a pair of kitchen scissors to cut the stem away and then shake the seeds out of each pepper.
  2. Cut each pepper into pieces then add to a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast them, stirring occasionally until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  3. Let the peppers cool, add to a high-speed blender, and blend until ground. Wait a few seconds before you remove the lid to let the dust of the pepper settle.
  4. To the same blender add the garlic powder, cumin, oregano, and smoked paprika, and pulse once or twice.
  5. Pour the mixture into an airtight jar with a resealable lid and store in a cool dark place.