To me, chili powder need not be superhot, but you can change that if you like—just add cayenne or some spicy dried chiles (most of the common dried red ones you find are pretty fiery). But it is easy enough to add heat at any stage of cooking or even at the table, whereas the warm, welcoming flavor of good chili powder is hard to come by. When you’re buying dried chiles, look for those that are not brittle; they should retain some moisture and even be a bit soft.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes about 1/2 cup
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Combine the whole chiles and cumin seeds in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until lightly browned and fragrant, just a few minutes; for the last minute of cooking, add the oregano.
Step 2
Cool, then grind in a spice or coffee grinder to a fine powder; add cayenne at this stage if you’re using it (some cooks also put in a bit of garlic powder). Store in a tightly covered opaque container for up to several months.
Recipe notes
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