Chile Ancho

Chile ancho, meaning “wide chile pod,” is the most commonly used chile in Mexico. It is the dried form of the chile poblano and a close cousin to the chile mulato. Used whole, it is stuffed for chile relleno. Blended with other ingredients it is used in moles. Ground into powder, it is used as a condiment. Commercially, it is often confused with the chile pasilla, and sold as such. The chile pasilla is also black but has a long, slender pod.