Pure powdered red chile

This is just what it says: red chiles dried, roasted, and ground to a fine powder that looks like Hungarian paprika (though it does not have the same flavor). It is as mild or hot as the chiles that went into it. In shopping for it you will encounter a barrage of confusing names in stores. Do not accept chili powder (a mixture of different flavorings) or cayenne pepper. A reputable spice dealer or well-stocked gourmet shop will sell pure powdered red chile either under that name or as something like “ground hot red pepper.” If the store has it in different grades of hotness, the one that is generally appropriate in my recipes is “hot” or (better) “medium-hot.”