What do you do when you find yourself with over two pounds of New Mexico red chile powder and almost a pound of green chile powder? Just to put this into perspective, a typical large jar of chile powder that you buy at the store is between 1.6 to 2.0 ounces (16 ounces = 1 pound). So 48 ounces of chile powder is a lot! Yes, I do go through quite a bit of chile powder, but, like most herbs and spices….if you keep it too long, it loses its punch. Thus the motivation to create these chile spice blends – a red and a green.
The Green Chile Spice is a blend of mild and hot New Mexico green chile powder with a variety spices and herbs. The Red Chile Spice is a blend of New Mexico red chile powders, a couple of other chile powders, spices, and herbs. The red chile powders that I used are from Diaz Farms and Dixon. The green chile powders are from Diaz Farms and Chimayo Chile Brothers. As I’ve mentioned before, not all chile powders are alike, so using powders from different parts of the state or from around the world for that matter, yields some very interesting chile spice blends. (Note: Diaz Farms no longer sells online.)
Both chile spice blends can be used in a variety of ways.
- Sprinkle on eggs, pizza, sandwiches, salads
- Add to scrambled eggs and omelets (such as Migas)
- Add to soups, chowders, and stews
- Toss with roasted or sauteed vegetables
- Use in place of red chile powder for a red chile sauce
- Spice up sauces like bechamel, remoulade, hollandaise, and BBQ
- Add to salad dressing
- The red chile blend makes a great rub for beef, pork and poultry
- Add some of the green spice blend to guacamole and chile con queso
- Let’s not forget bread – add to biscuits, flatbreads, yeast breads and rolls
- Season with chile blend in place of a salty broth.
- Use in place of salt and pepper for just about everything!
- Grilled Corn with Red Chile Spice
Oh … and they make great gifts. 🙂
New Mexico Green Chile Spice
A spice blend of New Mexico Green chile powder, and other herbs and spices. Great with eggs!
“*” See Kitchen Notes for more information or links to special ingredients.
- 3 Tbsp. medium to hot NM green chile powder*
- 1/8 tsp. HOT chile powder*
- 1 – 1 ½ Tbsp. fine ground sea salt
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 ½ tsp. ground white pepper
- ½ tsp. dried lemon thyme or regular thyme, ground or crushed
Put all ingredients in a large bowl and gently whisk until well combined.
- Transfer to an airtight jar and keep in spice drawer. Stores indefinitely.
Chile Powders – Here’s where you can go wild and have fun. I, of course, am partial to New Mexico chile powders, however, there are so many chile powders out there that it’s fun to mix and match a variety of chile. Because it’s a spice blend, you don’t have to worry as much about getting it too hot. I actually found it was more of a problem getting it hot enough. The green chile powder definitely needed a little more heat and thus the Pimente x Bhut, a really HOT chile powder that I got from Fords Fiery Foods and Plants.
Pimente x Bhut – A VERY hot chile powder that I like using in this blend. But any HOT chile powder works, like a NM red or cayenne, or serrano.
Here are some sources for New Mexico Red and Green Chile Powders.
Sea Salt – Because the chile powders are ground so fine, it’s best to use a fine ground sea salt as well. This allows the salt and the powders to blend better and not separate during use.
The Herbs – Oregano was a no brainer for the red chile, but I had to do some testing for the right herb for the green chile powder. The thyme worked great, but then, just on a whim, I tried it with lemon thyme. Bingo! However, I know unless you grow it, you’re not going to be able to find dried lemon thyme, so don’t hesitate to use regular thyme. In fact, in order to get that hint lemon, you could substitute one teaspoon of the sea salt with a lemon infused sea salt.
Garlic and Onion Powders – Be sure to use “powders” and not “salts”.
Be sure to review the many uses of these spices listed near the beginning of this post.
New Mexico Red Chile Spice
“*” See Kitchen Notes for more information or links to special ingredients.
- 3 Tbsp. NM red chile powder*
- 1 – 1 ½ Tbsp. fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. chipotle powder or smoked Serrano powder
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 3/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed fine
Put all ingredients in a large bowl and gently whisk until well combined.
- Transfer to an airtight jar.
Chile Powders – Here’s where you can go wild and have fun. I, of course, am partial to New Mexico chile powders, however, there are so many chile powders out there that it’s fun to mix and match a variety of chile. Because it’s a spice blend, you don’t have to worry as much about getting it too hot. I actually found it was more of a problem getting it hot enough. The green chile powder definitely needed a little more heat and thus the Pimente x Bhut, a really HOT chile powder that I got from Fords Fiery Foods and Plants.
Here are some sources for New Mexico Red and Green Chile Powders.
Sea Salt – Because the chile powders are ground so fine, it’s best to use a fine ground sea salt as well. This allows the salt and the powders to blend better and not separate during use.
The Herbs – Oregano was a no brainer for the red chile, but I had to do some testing for the right herb for the green chile powder. The thyme worked great, but then, just on a whim, I tried it with lemon thyme. Bingo! However, I know unless you grow it, you’re not going to be able to find dried lemon thyme, so don’t hesitate to use regular thyme. In fact, in order to get that hint lemon, you could substitute one teaspoon of the sea salt with a lemon infused sea salt.
Garlic and Onion Powders – Be sure to use “powders” and not “salts”.
Be sure to review the many uses of these spices listed near the beginning of this post.
I keep these Chile Spice Blends in my handy dandy spice draw just below my stovetop. That way they are within a finger’s reach. Because of these blends, my salt and pepper shakers are getting dusty. 🙂
Be sure to review the many uses of these spices listed near the beginning of this post.
On the green Chile blend is the 1/8 tsp of Hot Chile powder red or green?
Thank you
I use red, like a cayenne, NM hot red chile powder. Hope you enjoy the spice blend!
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I’m going to have to make these blends! I love making my own spice blends!!
They are really great blends! I ALWAYS add the green chile blend to scrambled eggs and the red chile blend to everything else. 🙂
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The lavish Chile Spice Blends evoke my treasured memories of visiting New Mexico at Christmas. What a wonderful home made gift idea!
This post is going straight to my Spice Blends board. I don’t know if my palate is quite ready for them but it will be one day and I’ll know where to find them. 🙂 Thanks, MJ.
BTW, 2 pounds?!?!?!?
Thanks John! I do hope you try them some day. The red would be especially good sprinkled on top of one of your wonderful pastas. 🙂 Yes, 2 pounds! 🙂
I would just like to add a note, since I am a big fan (and New Mexican) of green and red chile powders. I found that by putting the powders and my spice blends in the freezer after use, keeps the chile brighter and will stay fresher.
Viva New Mexico!
Thanks Roxy! You are so right about freezing! I always freeze excess flours and cornmeals but I haven’t thought of freezing chile powders. Well, they are in the freezer now! 🙂
Homemade is always the best, especially when it comes to spices where you don’t know what on earth industry has put in them!
Totally agree Katerina! Usually too much salt and too much of the “unknown”. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
I love this!! I’ve been making my own red chile blend for chili for YEARS. I especially like the green chile blend you made. I still have a good deal of the green chile powder you gave me but every time I’ve used it I’ve thought it needed an extra punch. Now I know what to do! Thank you!!! Btw – I got a mysterious delivery today from Season with Spice. Know anything about that??? XOXOX
I was wondering if you still had some of that green chile powder. 🙂 I really like you would like this blend. For the extra hot, maybe a little cayenne, since I know you have some of that? Mysterious delivery…sounds delightful. I wonder who it’s from. 🙂 I know how you guys like your salt. Enjoy!
I haven’t opened the mystery package yet. It is under the tree. I will ignore the spoiler comment you made. Love you.
WHOOPS! 🙂
Home made spice mixes are THE best. And you certainly have done fabulous job using up those chili powders. Great post MJ.
What a lovely spice-mix…and equally beautiful are those tiny bottles!
Wow, both of these sound wonderful! And not all full of salt like the store-bought version.
Thanks Joyti! Yes, I did reduce the salt because I have found some blends way too salty.
I wonder if they have red and green chile powder at the grocery here!
If they do, it’s probably not from New Mexico.:)
Oh my, that is a lot of chile powder :D. What a clever application MJ and so many enticing ideas for using these lovely spice blends. Love your jars — those chunky wooden lids are great and I would most certainly be delighted to receive these as a gift any time of year!
Thanks so much Kelly! Like I mentioned in an earlier comment, I’ve had a set of those jars for 40 years! They were in a spice rack we received as a wedding present. Some of the wooden lids have cracked and I’ve lost most of the plastic inserts for sprinkling, but I still have a few jars in good shape. A good quality product, obviously. 🙂
This would go well on pizza, marinades and soups
Absolutely Raymund! We actually bought a takeout pizza for the first time in ages the other night and the red chile spice was a pizza saver. 🙂
I’ve never made my own spice blends before… what a fantastic idea! I have a feeling that they would make great holiday gifts too!
thanks Thalia! This spice blend is so easy to make because the ingredients are so accessible. However,there are blends that have such specialized ingredients, that I prefer just buying them. 🙂
I am a big fan of homemade seasonings. No doubt, I have to make these blends. Thanks for shearing, MJ! And have a wonderful and delicious Christmas!
Thanks Nina! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well!
Problem solved for what to get my very difficult to buy for Mum! Thank you.
Great! So glad to have been able to assist you. 🙂
You know I am all over this!!!!!!!
Another gift idea for your HUGE list!
What a fantastic idea to make your own spice blends! Such a wonderful Christmas gift! (I must also add it to my list of suggested presents guests can bring at any time of the year instead of flowers which I HATE 😉 ).
Thanks Sissi! These do make great gifts any time of the year!
Love these spice blends. I would totally use these all the time. 🙂
I know I use them all of the time. Thanks!
if you think it’s too much to handle by yourself, i really glad accept it from you my dear friends!!!
lovin chilli all the way….
I would love to share with you Dedy!
This spice blend sounds phenomenal! I can use this on everything!!!
Definitely Renee! Thanks!
I can imagine a lot of your friends will be getting these Chile Spice Blend, wow that is a lot. They both look very tasty and perfect for so many dishes.
I use them all of the time Evelyne! Saves opening a bunch of different jars. 🙂
You ARE the spice queen and it would be very special to be on your gift list. 🙂 I love those bottles, did you find them locally?
I do like my chile Maureen! 🙂 Funny story about those bottles…they were part of a Spice rack that we received as a wedding gift 40 years ago!!! Obviously a good quality gift. 🙂
You always have THE most fun posts. Maybe because I am not up to speed with the kinds of wonderful dishes and knowledge your share with us all.
Yes, these would make super gifts. Thanx for the idea!
Thanks so much Carol! Of course I think you have extremely fun posts with all of your storytelling!
I can taste the goodness just by looking at them.
Great idea to make these blends! Great gifts, of course, but I’d be gifting myself these. 😉 Particularly since in so many dishes I use more the less the exact ingredients that are in the blends! Good post — thanks.
Well, Merry Christmas John! I’m glad I came up with an idea that you want for yourself. 🙂 Yep…the ingredients were formed by thinking about what I normally add to dishes in which I use chile powder. 🙂 Thanks!
They make a great holiday present! Love your spice bottles, MJ.
Thanks Angie! I have to admit that those bottles are about 30 years old! 🙂 Because I liked them so much I never threw them out and here I am using them. 🙂
I love homemade gifts. What a great idea and cute bottles, too!