If you’re in the mood to make your favorite chipotle recipes like tinga tacos or other Mexican or Tex-Mex dishes but don’t have a can of chipotle in adobo sauce lying around — don’t fret. You can get the same spicy, tangy, smoked jalapeño flavors with this easy DIY version. This recipe is a great way to substitute whole chipotles in adobo sauce or just the adobo sauce. Plus, you get to make just as much as you need so you don’t end up with an almost full can of leftovers you don’t know what to do with.
What are Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce?
Canned chipotles in adobo sauce are jalapeños that have been smoked, dried, and reconstituted in a sauce of tomato, vinegar, garlic, and spices. It adds heat, tang, and smokiness to the dish you’re using it in. And a little goes a long way which is why most people end up with almost a full can of leftovers they never use. This is what makes this recipe so genius — you make only what you need by using just 4 ingredients: Chipotle powder, garlic powder, tomato paste, and red wine vinegar.
Why We Love This DIY Chipotles in Adobo Sauce Recipe
- You’re never left with an almost full can of leftovers going bad in the back of the fridge
- It uses just 3 basic pantry staples (4 if you want to be fancy and add garlic powder)
- It adds the perfect amount of smoky, tangy, spicy heat to all kinds of dishes
- It takes 2 minutes to make
How Do you Make a Substitute for Chipotles in Adobo Sauce?
Making a substitute for chipotles in adobo sauce is as easy as mixing together chipotle powder, garlic powder, tomato paste, and red wine vinegar (see recipe below). If you want to make a little more than the recipe calls for, just seal it up in a jar and place it in the fridge until ready to use.
Canned Chipotle in Adobo Sauce Substitute Ingredients
I have to give a big shout-out and thanks to Cooks Illustrated for saving my skin with their recipe which I tweaked just a little by adding only one extra ingredient. I found it when I was making leftover turkey tinga tacos and was out of canned chipotles in adobo — and it worked like a charm!
For each 1 whole chili in adobo sauce called for in a recipe, use the following ratio:
- 3/4 teaspoon chipotle powder (2g)
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (0.33g)
- 1/4 teaspoon red wine vinegar (1.25g)
- 1/4 teaspoon tomato paste (1.25g)
For every teaspoon of adobo sauce called for in a recipe, use the following ratio:
- 1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder (0.33g)
- pinch of garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar (2.5g)
- 1/2 teaspoon tomato paste (2.5g)
Delicious Ways to Use this Homemade Chipotle in Adobo Sauce
Now that you know how to make DIY chipotles in adobo sauce, there are a ton of different ways you can use it to add tang, spice, and heat to any dish. Here are a few ways we like to use it.
- Spice up veggie burger blends
- Make a chipotle sour cream crema for tacos al Pastor
- Spice up your favorite veggie taco blends
- make turkey tinga tacos (recipe coming this week)
- Make chipotle mayo or aioli
- Spice up your ketchup
- Add depth to Barbacoa and other braised meat
- Add smoke to oven-roasted ribs
Let’s get started!
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Easy 2-Minute DIY Chipotles in Adobo Substitute
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 Whole Chipotle in Adobo Sauce Chili
- Diet: Vegan
Description
If you’re in the mood to make your favorite chipotle recipes like tinga tacos or other Mexican or Tex-Mex dishes but don’t have a can of chipotle in adobo sauce lying around — don’t fret. You can get the same spicy, tangy, smoked jalapeño flavors with this easy DIY version.
Ingredients
For each 1 whole chili in adobo sauce called for in a recipe, use the following ratio:
- 3/4 teaspoon chipotle powder (2g)
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (0.33g)
- 1/4 teaspoon red wine vinegar (1.25g)
- 1/4 teaspoon tomato paste (1.25g)
For every teaspoon of adobo sauce called for in a recipe, use the following ratio:
- 1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder (0.33g)
- pinch of garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar (2.5g)
- 1/2 teaspoon tomato paste (2.5g)
Instructions
- Mix together chipotle powder, garlic powder, tomato paste, and red wine vinegar and use as called for in the recipe. If you want to make a little more than the recipe calls for, just seal it up in a jar and place it in the fridge until ready to use.
Notes
For 2 whole chilis in adobo sauce called for in a recipe, use the following ratio:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle powder (4g)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (0.5g)
- 1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar (2.5g)
- 1/2 teaspoon tomato paste (2.5g)
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Condiments + Sauces + Dips
- Method: Mix & Stir
- Cuisine: Mexican & Latin
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/4 teaspoon
