Chipotle Sea Salt
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Add a little fiesta to your dinner table with this smoky and spicy chipotle sea salt! It works equally well with savory dishes like chicken or fish, as a finishing salt for sweet desserts, and sprinkled Mexican-style over watermelon, mango, cucumber, or popcorn. It's a simple sea salt blend that uses just two ingredients, stores well, and makes a great gift for spice lovers.
If you love the smoky, spicy flavor of chipotle, also try our creamy lime chipotle dressing, lazy deviled eggs, or our spicy chicken marinade.
This recipe was originally published in 2011. We've updated the post with some new photos and more information, but we've left the delicious recipe exactly the same.
What are chipotle peppers?
Chipotle peppers are actually jalapeƱo peppers that have been left on the vine to ripen. While jalapeƱos are picked when they're still green, others are left to ripen until their color turns a deep red. The extra time in the sun gives them their distinctly smoky, spicy, and slightly sweet flavor. What we love about chipotles is that they're big on flavor without being overly fiery.
They come in a few different forms and can be found as dried whole pods, chipotle powder, chipotle flakes, in hot sauce, and as canned chipotle in adobo (which is what is used in this chipotle sea salt recipe).
How to use chipotle sea salt
This chipotle sea salt will become a pantry staple because it's so versatile. It adds a rich smoky and spicy flavor without too much heat.
- On the barbecue ā you'll want to have some around for barbecue season because it's the perfect seasoning for chicken, pork, fish, or tofu.
- As a finishing salt for sweet deserts ā it adds a smoky, spicy crunch to sweet deserts like our vegan pots de creme.
- On roasted vegetables ā rub it on your veggies before roasting.
- Add a pinch to fresh fruit ā bring the Mexican fruit stand home! Squeeze some lime juice over your watermelon, mango, cucumber, or daikon radish then add a pinch of chipotle sea salt for a refreshing salty sweet snack.
- Over popcorn ā add a dash to freshly popped corn to heat up your movie night snack.
FAQs: Chipotle Sea Salt
Where do I find chipotle peppers?
You can find canned chipotle peppers in adobo at most well-stocked supermarkets. They come in a small tin and you can find them alongside other Mexican groceries. You can also find them online here.
What is adobo?
Adobo is the rich sauce that the chipotle peppers are packaged in. In this recipe, we blend the sauce and the peppers together to create a thick chipotle paste.
Can I use any kind of salt?
Coarse salt is ideal for this recipe. It has larger granules that won't dissolve and make it great for garnishing.
Storing chipotle sea salt
Once it's completely cooled, you can store this salt indefinitely. For the longest shelf life, store it in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place. Why not make a double batch and share it as a gift for the spice lovers in your life?
Other seasonings we love
Chipotle Sea Salt Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 jar chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- Ā½ cup coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Empty the jar of chipotle peppers into your blender and blend on high until smooth. Measure out Ā¼ cup of this chipotle paste then save the rest for another recipe.1 jar chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- MixĀ the salt and chipotle paste in a small bowl until well combined. Spread it out evenly on a small, parchment paper-lined baking sheet.Ā½ cup coarse sea salt
- Place the baking sheet in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the chipotle-covered salt is dry. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and stir the salt occasionally until it is cool.
- Once it is cool enough to handle, use your fingers to break apart any large chunks. The salt will keep indefinitely stored in a cool, dry place.
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
