Pasilla Peppers, A Founding Flavor of Mexican Mole
What Does Pasilla Taste Like?
More information and facts about this product
How to Use Pasilla Chile Powder
Country of origin: Mexico
Ingredients: Whole ground Pasilla chile peppers
Shelf Life: 18-24 Months
Storage: Store tightly sealed in a cool and dry environment
Uses: Soups, sauces, moles, dressings, rubs, spice blends, compound butters, lamb, duck, beef, game and more
Scoville Heat Scale: Mild around 250 - 2500 on the heat scale
Pasilla is most famous as one of the three chiles in mole negro, but its uses extend well beyond that iconic sauce. It's a key ingredient in enchilada sauce, chile colorado, and birria, where its earthy, raisin-like depth balances richer, fattier meats. Toasted lightly and rehydrated, whole pasilla pods can be blended into a smooth salsa negra, or ground into powder for a quick dry rub on beef, lamb, or duck. It also shows up in classic Mexican soups like sopa de tortilla and caldo, where a small amount adds real complexity without overwhelming heat.
For an easy starting point, try stirring a tablespoon into a pot of black bean soup, or blend it into homemade adobo seasoning alongside Mexican oregano and cumin.
From Chilaca to Pasilla: How the Pepper Gets Its Name
Pasilla starts its life as the chilaca pepper, a long, slender, mild-to-medium chile grown fresh in Mexico. Left to fully ripen and then dried, the chilaca darkens to a deep, wrinkled brown and earns a new name: pasilla, Spanish for "little raisin," a fitting description given both its appearance and its sweet, fruity flavor once dried. Botanically, pasilla belongs to Capsicum annuum, the same broad species that includes bell peppers, jalapeños, and ancho chiles, though its distinct drying process is what gives it a flavor entirely its own. This transformation from fresh chilaca to dried pasilla is a great example of how much a chile's character can change simply through drying and aging, rather than through variety alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Pasilla has an almost sweet, smoky, and fruity flavor profile, with tasting notes of raisins, prunes, berries, and cocoa. "Pasilla" translates to "little raisin" in Spanish, a fitting description of its flavor.
- Pasilla, ancho, and mulato together make up the "holy trinity" of dried chiles used in traditional Mexican mole negro. Each contributes a distinct role: pasilla brings earthy depth, ancho adds sweetness, and mulato contributes mid-range complexity.
- No, pasilla is mild, measuring approximately 250-2,500 Scoville Heat Units. It's prized more for its complex, raisin-like flavor than for heat.
- Pasilla is most famous for its role in mole sauces, but it also works well in soups, dressings, rubs, spice blends, compound butters, and dishes featuring lamb, duck, beef, or game. It pairs especially well with Mexican oregano, cumin, chocolate, and dried fruit.
- Pasilla chile powder is currently available for purchase at Slofoodgroup.