Diced Chipotles

1. Heat water in a pot until almost boiling. Soak the chipotles in the hot water for 20 to 30 minutes or until tender to reconstitute for a recipe.

2. Remove the seeds and discard. Dice, mince or puree the reconstituted chipotles.

3. Add the chipotles to soups, stews or sauces. Use chipotles in salsa, refried beans, rice, vinaigrettes and guacamole. Make a chipotle marinade for chicken or steak. See the Resources section of this article for chipotle recipes.

Whole Chipotles

1. Slice the whole, dried chipotles from the stem to the tip.

2. Remove the seeds and discard them.

3. Add the whole chipotles to your recipe. Whole chipotles add a moderate amount of heat to a recipe.

Chipotle Appetizers

1. Cover some whole chipotle peppers in warm water. Soak them until they become pliable.

2. Cut slits around the stem and remove it. Remove the seeds.

3. Stuff with cheese and bake in the oven at 300°F about ten minutes, or until the cheese melts. Use a soft cheese that melts well, such as Neufchatel or Muenster.

4. Serve the chipotle appetizers with sour cream or plain yogurt.