Mexico: One Plate at a Time — Season 1, Episode 15: Adobo: Chiles Cut and Dried

Episode synopsis

Chiles are the hot, spicy peppers that are used solely to make Mexican food so incendiary, right? Wrong. Starting with a trip to a chile stall in Mexico City’s Merced Market, Rick deftly debunks the most common myths about the role of chiles in Mexican cooking. We learn that like grapes and raisins, chiles all get completely new names when they go from fresh to dried. They are, Rick tells us, a vegetable, a spice and most importantly, a flavor ingredient. And nowhere is the flavor of the dried chile celebrated more deliciously than in the famous preparation, Adobo. Rick makes a juicy Chicken in Adobo, roasted in a purée of ancho chiles, garlic and oregano. On a visit to the beautiful San Angel restaurant, a former hacienda in the Mexican countryside, he checks out the pork in adobo and another surprising Mexican invention, Caesar salad.

About Mexico: One Plate at a Time

Rick Bayless, the beloved chef and restaurateur, seamlessly weaves together techniques, recipes, cultural musings and off-the-wall surprises. Throughout the series, Rick translates his Mexican travel adventures into unforgettable parties from intimate fireside suppers and casual backyard cocktails with friends to big, boisterous bashes for 25.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Whole Enchilada
• E2Let's Talk Tacos
• E3The Straight Cheese On Quesadillas
• E4Sopes And Gorditas: Masa Appeal
• E5Tacos From The Ground Up
• E6Ceviche In The Limelight
• E7Green Sauce And Tomatillos: Mexican Vine Dining
• E8A La Mexicana: The Soul Of Mexican Cooking
• E9Fruit, Aguas, Ices & Paletas: The Ripe Stuff
• E10Rice to the Occasion
• E11Caldo de Pollo & Tortilla Soup: The Super Bowl
• E12Chiles Rellenos and Other Cool Stuff