Ancho Chile

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 45 min

Serve this flavorful chili with chopped green onion, cilantro and red bell pepper.

Canela, a Latin American cousin of cinnamon, is a leading player in this sauce. Once used by affluent Romans in love potions and perfumes, the spice, derived from the inner bark of a tropical evergreen, is hugely popular in New World cuisine, in everything from soups to desserts. This recipe is a component of Grill-Roasted Rack of Lamb in Red Mole .

This recipe was created to accompany <epi:recipelink id="14144">Camarones Adobados a La Parrilla (Grilled Shrimp with Ancho Pasilla Sauce).</epi:recipelink> Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The recado is a dry rub that gives a burst of flavor to almost any meat or vegetable but is particularly wonderful on beef and corn.

Annatto seed seasoning paste

Accompany the shrimp with grilled zucchini and yellow squash.

Market tip: All rainbow trout sold in markets are sustainably farm-raised.

If you can't find raw unhulled pumpkin seeds, you can substitute 6 ounces of the hulled (green) ones, but the pipián (seed-thickened sauce) will be richer. Active time: 1 3/4 hr Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

This modification of a classic soup uses less cream than traditional versions.

A nice side would be polenta or mashed potatoes.

Chiles Anchos Rellenos de Atún con Papas This is more sweet than spicy, because the chiles are softened in brown sugar and vinegar before stuffing.

Cardamom is a spice not commonly used in the United States. A member of the ginger family, this warm, sweet spice is traditionally found in Indian cooking, flavoring a wide variety of curries, rice dishes, and Indian-style desserts. It is best to purchase the pod and grind the seeds yourself; once ground, cardamom begins to lose its essential oils. You can also crush the pods lightly, then add them hearty stews and lentil or other bean soups. The outer pods will dissolve, but the little black seeds within will pleasantly spice the mix. [This mix in used in the recipe for Carrot Cardamom Soup.]