Definition chipotle

A chipotle is a smoked, dried jalapeño pepper. The word can name the ingredient itself, a seasoning or sauce made with it, or the restaurant brand Chipotle. The sentence determines which meaning is intended.

Meaning and context

As an ingredient, chipotle contributes smoke and chile flavor. Products labeled chipotle can differ substantially: dried peppers, ground powder, canned peppers in sauce, and prepared dressings are not identical ingredients. Read the product label before substituting one for another.

Examples and usage

Add chipotle powder refers to a ground seasoning. A recipe calling for chipotles in adobo is asking for peppers in a prepared sauce. We ordered lunch from Chipotle refers to the business rather than an ingredient by itself.

What to check

Do not assume that every chipotle-flavored food has the same heat level or composition. The amount of pepper and the other ingredients affect the result. If you need to avoid an ingredient, inspect the actual product’s label instead of relying on the flavor name.

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