Red hot chili peppers
Smoky puréed chipotles are an easy way to add earthy spice
James Carrier
Reduced-fat sour cream and fresh tomato salsa make a cooling garnish for black bean chili.
Recipes
Chipotle chilies are smoked jalapeños that are sold dried or canned in adobo sauce. The canned variety in particular is packed with a lot of flavor but very little fat, so the chilies are perfect for healthy cooking.
Purée a can and keep it in the refrigerator to have on hand for adding smoky, pickled heat to beans, soups, and meat stews; for stirring into mayonnaise to spread on sandwiches; or for adding spice and depth to any fresh or jarred salsa.
A few tablespoons of this complex chili purée go a long way toward seasoning dishes like meatless black bean chili or shredded chicken in red sauce, folded into soft corn tortillas.
