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September 7, 2026

Chipotle in adobo is naturally vegan and still the best smoky ingredient

This is something I did not know until recently: traditional chipotle in adobo sauce is made from smoked jalapeños, tomato, vinegar, and aromatics. No animal products. It is accidentally vegan and it is the most efficient smoky flavor addition available. For vegan burritos specifically: one or two chipotles pureed into a salsa base, or minced and stirred into refried beans, adds a smokiness and depth that would otherwise require long cooking processes. Most commercial brands are vegan but check the label — a few add ingredients that are not.

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September 7, 2026
An entire community named after this exact truth. Chipotle in adobo is one of the most efficient flavor ingredients in Mexican cooking and the fact that it happens to be vegan is worth knowing.
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September 7, 2026
They also hit the umami note on top of the smoke. The tomato and the fermented character of the adobo give you three flavor dimensions — smoke, umami, and acid — in one ingredient.