mole peppers crossword – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're tackling the clue "mole peppers crossword", you've come to the right place. We provide quick and accurate solutions, along with detailed explanations to help you understand the context and enrich your crossword-solving experience.
Solutions for "mole peppers crossword" by Letter Count
5 Letters
ANCHO: A dried poblano pepper, a key ingredient in many traditional mole sauces, providing a fruity, smoky flavor.
6 Letters
MULATO: A dried chili pepper similar to ancho, offering a sweet, chocolatey, and smoky flavor profile essential for complex mole sauces.
7 Letters
POBLANO: A fresh, mild to medium-heat chili pepper, known as ancho when dried, widely used in Mexican cuisine, including mole.
PASILLA: A dried, dark, wrinkled chili pepper with a rich, smoky, and fruity flavor, often paired with ancho and mulato in classic mole recipes.
More About "mole peppers crossword"
The term "mole peppers" is a common shorthand in crosswords for the specific varieties of dried chili peppers that are foundational to the complex and rich flavors of traditional Mexican mole sauces. Mole, derived from the Nahuatl word "mōlli" meaning "sauce," is a broad term for several kinds of sauces prepared in Mexican cuisine, with mole poblano and mole negro being among the most famous.
These peppers are not merely for heat; they contribute a wide spectrum of flavors, from fruity and earthy to smoky and chocolatey, depending on the variety. For instance, the ancho provides a sweet, fruity note, the mulato offers hints of chocolate and licorice, and the pasilla delivers a deep, almost raisin-like flavor. Understanding these nuances can not only help with crossword clues but also deepens appreciation for Mexican culinary traditions.
When you encounter "mole peppers" in a crossword, the answer often points to one of these staple dried chiles. The clue tests your knowledge of culinary ingredients, particularly those central to world cuisines. Crossword setters love these clues because they connect general knowledge with specific cultural items.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider Culinary Context: For clues involving food or ingredients, think about the cuisine. "Mole peppers" strongly points to Mexican cuisine, narrowing down potential answers to specific chili varieties.
- Think Dried vs. Fresh: Many peppers have different names when fresh versus dried (e.g., poblano vs. ancho). Crossword clues might specify or imply one form over the other.
- Use Cross-References: If you're stuck on "mole peppers," look for intersecting words. The letters you fill in from other clues can significantly narrow down the possibilities for this one.
- Expand Your Vocabulary: Regularly reading about different cultures, foods, and historical topics can build a rich vocabulary that will serve you well in crosswords.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are mole peppers?
Mole peppers typically refer to the specific dried chili peppers that form the aromatic and flavorful base of traditional Mexican mole sauces. Common varieties include ancho, mulato, and pasilla, often referred to as the 'holy trinity' of mole chiles, alongside others like chipotle.
Are "ancho" and "poblano" the same pepper?
Yes, they are essentially the same pepper, but in different forms. A poblano is the fresh chili pepper, while an ancho pepper is simply a dried poblano. The drying process deepens their flavor, making them ideal for complex sauces like mole.
Why are certain peppers used in mole?
Specific peppers are chosen for mole due to their unique flavor profiles, ranging from fruity and smoky (ancho) to earthy and chocolatey (mulato), and deep, woody notes (pasilla). Their combined flavors, along with other ingredients like nuts, seeds, spices, and chocolate, create the distinctive depth and complexity of mole sauces.