enchilar

Enchilar is a Spanish verb meaning to flavor or season food with chile peppers, or to make something spicy by adding chile-based sauces or peppers. The term is common in Mexican Spanish and in other Latin American varieties that use chile peppers. The action can refer to the cooking process or to the resulting spiciness of a dish. In cooking, enchilar often involves adding dried or fresh chiles, chili paste, salsa, or adobo to a recipe, or applying a chile sauce to a dish prior to serving.

Etymology: enchilar derives from the noun chile (the chili pepper) with the prefix en- indicating “to apply” or “to cause.” The noun chile comes from Nahuatl via Spanish; the verb enchilar is attested since the colonial era, reflecting long-standing chili-based cooking practices.

Usage and variations: It is a regular -ar verb, conjugated like other -ar verbs (yo enchilo, tú enchilas, él enchila, nosotros enchilamos, vosotros enchiláis, ellos enchilan). In some contexts enchilar may describe merely making something spicier, whereas in others it denotes directly coating or marinating with a chile sauce. The related adjective enchilado means “spicy” or “seasoned with chiles.”

See also: enchilada, chile, spicy foods, mole, salsa.