What is it about chipotle peppers that make them so irresistible? Is it the distinct smokiness that enhances the taste of any meat? Or is it the underlying sweetness that adds a layer of flavor to every savory item?
We love chipotle peppers and use them frequently in all the delicious Mexican items we make. Still, it can be difficult to use up the entire can!
Ever considered food storage solutions on making chipotle bowls with leftovers? Don’t worry about how to reheat chipotle bowls! We have you covered. Keep reading for chipotle bowls and four other bold and delicious recipes for leftover chipotle peppers.
1. Chipotle Burrito Bowls
Chipotle burrito bowls can be a great addition to your easy meal cheatsheet. It is tasty, healthy, and can be put together within a few minutes, as long as you have your ingredients ready.
Remember that the chipotle will go into the chicken marinade. Blend the peppers in vegetable oil, garlic, cumin, black pepper, and oregano for the marinade. Marinate the chicken for 4 hours. If you can’t grill the chicken, you can try pan-searing them.
You can add cooked green peppers, red onions, mushrooms, and other fajita veggies into your bowl. Remember to add some salsa or guacamole. Other items can include boiled rice, boiled beans, sour cream, and other burrito ingredients.
Wondering how to reheat the chipotle bowl? You can reheat it using any reheating method; just remember to remove raw ingredients like salsa and add them to the food after reheating. Even if you make a large batch, you can always reheat the chipotle bowl.
2. Chipotle Braised Pork
Adding chipotle to braised pork makes its flavor more intense. Since we slow cook the pork for three hours, the smokiness of the chilis spread throughout the meat.
To make the sauce that you will braise the pork in, blend chipotle peppers, chicken broth, orange juice, oregano, and cumin.
Rub the pork with salt and pepper, then brown every side in a dutch oven. Set aside the pork. Pour olive in the same pot, then brown onions in it. Add some garlic and cook for a minute. Pour in the chipotle sauce and simmer. Follow it by adding the pork pieces into the pot.
Bring the sauce to boil, then pop it in the oven. Make sure to preheat the oven to 300°F before putting the pot in. Braise for 3 hours, turning the meat over once when halfway through.
3. Chipotle Rice Casserole
Similar to how you use green peppercorns in brine, you can blend your chipotle into a sauce or dice them and use them without making a paste.
For this casserole recipe, you will use chopped chipotle. Other canned ingredients you can use are bell peppers, tomatoes, black beans, and sweet corn. Make sure to use cooked rice for this recipe. Mix in all the canned ingredients, rice, cilantro, and cheese (shredded jack or mozzarella).
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a baking dish in cooking spray and all the mixed ingredients. Keep stirring as you add milk, chicken broth, garlic, and cumin.
Continue stirring and bring it to a boil. Stir and boil for one minute. Pour the concoction over the rice mix. Top with a layer of cheese, and pop in the oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese melts.
4. Chipotle Coleslaw
When you think of a side dish where you can add your chipotle, you think of Mexican dishes like this black bean and corn salsa recipe. It is easy to upgrade any salsa or guacamole recipe with chopped chipotle, but this pepper doesn’t have to stay limited to Mexican sides.
One easy and smokey side you can make with chipotle pepper is coleslaw. As a salad dish, slaws tend to be on the sweeter side. This makes chipotle pepper’s sweetness complement the flavors of coleslaw.
Shred red and white cabbage, along with some carrots. Make sure there is more cabbage than carrots. Add mayo, vinegar, chopped cilantro, chopped chipotle, some adobo sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper. Add your slaw veggies and give it a mix. Enjoy your slaw fresh, alongside any mains.
5. Chipotle Baked Fish
You can use any boneless fish fillets for this recipe. Opt for oily fish like tilapia or trout. You can also use salmon, but you might want to remove the skin before cooking.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Rub olive oil in a light baking dish. Add a layer of sliced onion. Sprinkle some salt and roast in the oven until it starts to brown.
Halve the chipotle peppers and finely chop them. Move the peppers to a small bowl, add adobo sauce, and stir into a paste. Rub salt into the fillets. Apply a generous layer of chili paste to both sides of the fillets.
Place the fillet on the baking sheet on top of the onions, making sure the bone side is up. Bake in the oven for 7 minutes, until it flakes near the tail end. Garnish with chopped cilantro and onions. Enjoy the fish with a squeeze of lime!
Final Thoughts
Chipotle peppers make a great addition to most savory dishes. Don’t worry about what to do with your leftover peppers. Try making the recipes above. Add a kick to coleslaw or any salad with chipotle. Use them as rub or marinade for any meat or fish dish. These peppers can enhance the flavor of any Mexican dish. Now you can make a large batch of chipotle bowls and store them in the fridge without worrying about how to reheat the chipotle bowl.
