The guajillo pepper is a beloved pepper used in Mexican cuisine. It is the dried form of the mirasol chili pepper, second in popularity only to the ancho, offering sweet flavor and mild-medium heat.
Scoville Heat Units: 2,500-5,000 SHU
Capsicum Annuum
The Guajillo is one of the most common and popular chili peppers grown and used in Mexico, and a beloved pepper used in Mexican cuisine. It is mild to moderately hot, and has dark, reddish brown, leathery skin. The peppers range from 3-5 inches in length and are 1 inch wide. They are said to have either a green-tea flavor or fruity flavor, with hints of berries.
It is the dried form of the mirasol pepper, second in popularity only to the ancho, offering sweet flavor and mild-medium heat.
What are Guajillo Peppers Used For?
Guajillos, along with pasilla and ancho peppers, are used in traditional mole sauces. They are sometimes said to comprise the "holy trinity" of Mexican chile peppers, sometimes along with the dark mulato pepper, though that is a very loose term. They are great in sauces, salsas and soups and chili, especially in salsa for tamales. They can be ground down into a paste or a rub to add flavor to meat, or to make homemade harissa, a chili paste used in Tunisian cuisine.
The dried chiles are usually sold in whole, dried form, which can be either toasted and ground into powder, or re-hydrated and made into a sauce or paste.
It may also be sold in its powder form, already ground. A little of this pepper goes a long way, so experiment first to see what level of flavor you prefer.
How Hot is a Guajillo Pepper?
The guajillo pepper is considered a mild to medium heat level chili, measuring from 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale. Compare that to a jalapeno pepper, which ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, and it can be roughly equivalent to the jalapeno in heat.
What Do Guajillo Peppers Taste Like?
Guajillo peppers offer a bit of heat along with smoky notes and a berry-like flavor profile. Some people note hints of berries mixed with a fruity or green tea-like flavor. Because of this complex mix of subtle tastes, it is no wonder why it has long been one of Mexico's most popular chili peppers.
Cooking with Guajillo Peppers
Cooking with guajillo peppers is a great way to build wonderful flavor. They are widely used in authentic Mexican cooking and cuisine. It is best to lightly dry toast them in a medium hot pan to draw out some of the flavor, then open them, remove the seeds, and rehydrate them in hot water for about 30 minutes. Then, process them into a paste, which you can add to many dishes, sauces, mole, marinades, soups and stews and more.
Another way is to remove the seeds and stem and grind the pods into a powder for seasoning.
Can I Substitute Ancho for Guajillo?
Yes, you can use ancho peppers in place of guajillo chile peppers in any recipe, though the flavors are not identical. Anchos have an earthier, darker flavor, where guajillos are a bit fruity with notes of green tea. They actually work wonderfully when used together.
Learn More About These Other Popular Mexican Peppers
- Ancho Peppers
- Mulato Peppers
- Pasilla Peppers
- Chilaca Peppers
- Poblano Peppers
- Jalapeno Pepper
- Chile de Arbol
- A Guide to Mexican Peppers
Try Some of My Popular Guajillo Pepper Recipes
- Guajillo Sauce
- Ancho-Guajillo Chili Paste
- Cheesy Guajillo Potato Soup
- Homemade Chili Powder
- Beef Enchiladas
- Beef Barbacoa
- Green Chile Pork Stew
- Chili Colorado
- Chili Con Carne
- Salsa Macha
- Camarones a la Diabla (Diablo Shrimp)
- Mexican Birria and Birria Tacos
- Caldo de Camaron (Mexican Shrimp Soup)
Got any questions about the guajillo pepper? Drop me a line anytime. I'm happy to help! -- Mike H.
NOTE: This page was updated on 1/14/20 to include new information and photos. It was originally published on 9/22/13.
James says
HI Mike,
Have you encountered guajillo powder losing color? Mine is ground at home from whole pods [roasted and seeds removed before grinding]. It started out the usual deep red, but is now orange bordering on yellow. I roasted and ground some ancho, meco and pasilla at the same time. They look fine. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
James
Mike Hultquist says
James, I have some grow more dull in color, but not turn yellow. Is it exposed to the direct sun? Or maybe some type of heat source?
Jalal Audi says
And can i use red serranos instead of mirasol to make guajillos sorry for asking too many questions
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jalal, no. However, you can still dry the serranos and use them in the same way. They would have a different flavor profile, but would still work.
Jalal Audi says
What can i use instead of poblanos
And how do i get the dark color of the guajillo chili and can you tell me which dried chilis are smoked
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
For a pepper to be called an "ancho" pepper, it needs to be made from a poblano. However, you can apply the same drying techniques to other peppers and use them in place of anchos or guajillos for recipes. Flavors vary, however. Poblanos are quite special and hard to replace. For mirasol, you can experiment with other red, mildly spicy peppers.
See my post on Mexican Chili Peppers (https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-types/mexican-peppers/) to learn more, and for certain smoked peppers, like Chipotle Peppers or Morita Peppers. Also see:
How to Smoke Chili Peppers (https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/preserving-chili-peppers/how-to-smoke-chili-peppers/)
Jalal Audi says
Are the ancho or the guajillo chilis smoked and can i use aleppo peppers instead of poblanos?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
They are not smoked, though you CAN smoke them. Aleppo peppers are rather different, but yes, you can use them.
Jalal Audi says
Can i make guajillo chiles and ancho chiles at home bcz I can't find them they're not available in my country
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jalal, if you can grow the peppers, you can dry them at home. Most are sundried, but a dehydrator is very effective.
Sylvia Stalnaker says
I have a question about the Guajillo pepper. I am new to pepper food preparation. I purchased some packaged peppers at a store frequented by Mexican families. The pepper have very little heat and has a bitter taste, especially the aftertaste. Is this the normal flavor? Is it best to rehydrate to get a better flavor? I have used your site for reference and when I have I have a question I have been able to use your site. So for that Thank YOU.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hello, Sylvia. Thanks for contacting me. Yes, guajillo peppers CAN have a somewhat bitter taste. Usually this is from the inner seeds, so most people remove them before cooking with them. When I cook with them, I usually lightly dry toast them to draw out some of the flavor, then open them, remove the seeds, and rehydrate them i hot water. Then, you can process them into a paste to cook with. Another way is to remove the seeds and stem and grind the pods into a powder for seasoning. Let me know if this helps. I'm happy to answer any more questions.