Home-smoked chipotles adobado
100 Servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| Chunks or logs of fragrant | ||
| Hardwood, | ||
| Preferably a combination of | ||
| Oak & mesquite | ||
| 1¼ | pounds | Red-ripe jalapeno chiles, | 
| With stems | ||
| ½ | cup | Dried Red New Mexico Chile | 
| Puree | ||
| OR - | ||
| Commercial chile paste, such | ||
| As Santa Cruz | ||
| ⅓ | cup | Water | 
| 2 | tablespoons | Tomato paste | 
| 2 | tablespoons | Cider vinegar | 
| 1 | tablespoon | Packed dark brown sugar | 
| 1 | Clove fresh garlic peeled and crushed | |
| ¼ | teaspoon | Salt | 
Directions
Prepare a smoker according to the manufacturer's directions, using the wood chunks and achieving a steady temperature of 275 to 300 degrees F. Place the chiles directly on the smoker rack (or use a shallow disposable foil pan) at the cooler end of the smoking chamber or on the upper rack if your smoker has one. Lower the cover and smoke the chiles for 2½ hours, or until they are soft, brown, and slightly shriveled.
Remove the chipotles from the smoker. In a medium nonreactive saucepan, combine them with the chile puree, water, tomato paste, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, and salt. Set over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring once or twice, until the sauce is very thick, about 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature. 
Transfer the chipotles to a covered storage container and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before using. They can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 2 months. 
UNSAUCED DRIED CHIPOTLES:  After removing the chiles from the smoker, place them on a rack and leave them, loosely covered, at room temperature, until crisp, light, and dry, 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the humidity. Store airtight at room temperature. 
Recipe By     : W. Park Kerr in "Burning Desires"