Chili Powder

Pellicano's Chili Powder

Earthy, Aromatic Base for Southwestern Cooking

Pellicano's Chili Powder is a widely versatile and balanced seasoning blend, designed to provide the quintessential flavor foundation for classic American and Tex-Mex cuisine. Unlike pure chili pepper (like cayenne), this blend combines multiple spices, offering a complex profile that is primarily earthy, savory, and warm with moderate, building heat.

The success of this blend lies in its balanced composition:

• Earthy Core: The primary ingredient, Chili Pepper, provides a mild, foundational heat and deep color. Cumin introduces the essential pungent, nutty, and earthy notes of Tex-Mex food.

• Aromatics: Oregano adds a sharp, herbaceous lift, and Garlic contributes a deep, savory punch.

• Balance: Salt ensures the mixture is perfectly seasoned, and additional Spices create a richer, more complex final aroma.

Essential for Chili, Enchiladas, and Flavoring Meats

Chili powder is a foundational ingredient used to build savory depth in slow-cooked meals:

• Chili Con Carne: The indispensable ingredient for developing the deep, rich, red sauce base for traditional chili.

• Taco Meat and Burritos: A primary seasoning for ground beef, chicken, or turkey for all Tex-Mex fillings.

• Enchilada Sauce: Used as the main flavoring agent, often bloomed in oil, to create the thick, red sauce that coats corn tortillas.

• Dry Rubs: Forms a key component in dry rubs for briskets, ribs, and chicken, providing color, earthiness, and mild heat before smoking or grilling.

Fun Fact: An American Original

While chili peppers themselves originated in the Americas, the specific spice blend known as "chili powder" is an American invention. It was first marketed commercially in Texas during the late 19th century as a convenient way for cooks to quickly recreate the complex flavors of homemade chili without having to roast, grind, and measure multiple individual spices. This convenience rapidly popularized the blend, making it a staple across the United States.

Easy Recipe: Quick Enchilada Sauce Base

This method uses the chili powder to create a flavorful sauce from scratch.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

• 2 Tbsp. All-Purpose Flour

• 2 Tbsp. Pellicano’s Chili Powder

• 1 Tsp. Sugar

• 1/2 Tsp. Garlic Powder (Extra)

• 2 Cups Vegetable or Chicken Broth

Instructions:

1. Make Roux: Heat the Olive Oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the Flour to create a smooth paste (roux). Cook for 1 minute.

2. Bloom Spices: Remove the pan from the heat. Whisk in the Chili Powder, Sugar, and extra Garlic Powder. Cook for 30 seconds off-heat, stirring constantly, to toast the spices and release their aroma.

3. Simmer: Slowly whisk in the Broth until the sauce is smooth and lump-free. Return to medium heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.

4. Use immediately as the sauce base for beef, chicken, or cheese enchiladas.

Ingredients: Chili Pepper, Salt, Cumin, Oregano, Garlic, Spices, Not More than 2% Silicon Dioxide Added as a Processing Aid.