Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

Do you love enchiladas but are tired of using store-bought sauce? It’s time to step up your game and try making your own homemade enchilada sauce! Not only is it easy, but it’s also customizable to your taste preferences and will impress your friends and family.

To start, gather your ingredients. You will need chili powder, cumin, tomato sauce, chicken or vegetable broth, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and flour. The measurements can be adjusted to your liking, and you can even add in other spices for more flavor. Once everything is assembled, it’s time to get cooking. With just a few simple steps, you can have a delicious enchilada sauce ready to use for any recipe. Let’s get started!

Ingredients Needed to Make Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Making homemade enchilada sauce is quite easy and straightforward. You don’t need to struggle with buying store-bought sauce anymore. Here are the essential ingredients you will need to make delicious enchilada sauce:

1. Dried Chili Peppers – You can use different varieties of dried peppers such as ancho, guajillo, or pasilla depending on your preference.
2. Onion – One red or white onion will be sufficient.
3. Garlic – At least 3 cloves of garlic will give your sauce a savory taste.
4. Tomato Paste – One tablespoon of tomato paste for a thicker consistency.
5. Cumin Powder – A teaspoon of cumin powder will add a smoky flavor to the enchilada sauce.
6. Salt – Add salt to taste.
7. Black Pepper – Ground black pepper adds a mild spicy flavor to the sauce.
8. Vegetable Broth – If you prefer a meatier taste, you can use chicken broth instead.
9. All-Purpose Flour – Two tablespoons of flour for thickening the sauce.
10. Olive Oil – Two tablespoons of olive oil will be enough to cook the onions and garlic.

Step by Step Guide to Make Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Now that you have your ingredients ready let’s dive into the steps of making homemade enchilada sauce.

1. Begin by removing the stem and seeds from the dried chili peppers, and then toast them in a hot skillet. Toasting will release the flavors of the dried chili peppers.

2. Add the toasted chili peppers to a bowl and pour hot water over them and let them soak for about 10-15 minutes until soft.

3. While the dried chili peppers are soaking, heat up a skillet with olive oil, add the onions and garlic, and cook until translucent.

4. Check the chili peppers, once they are soft, transfer them into a blender with onion, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth.

5. Pour the sauce back into the skillet and cook for another 5 minutes on low heat.

6. Mix two tablespoons of all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup of vegetable broth, whisk until it gets a smooth texture.

7. Add the mixture to the skillet and whisk until it thickens.

8. Pour in another 1 1/2 cups of vegetable broth or chicken broth and whisk again.

9. Allow the sauce to cook for another 10-15 minutes until it thickens to your desired consistency.

10. Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and let it cool to room temperature before using.

Making homemade enchilada sauce is an easy and cost-effective way to elevate your Mexican-inspired dishes. Try experimenting with different chili peppers and spices to create a unique flavor profile.

What You Need to Make Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Now that you’ve made the decision to make your own enchilada sauce, let’s go over everything you will need to get started. We’ve broken down the list into essential ingredients and equipment, so you can make sure you have everything on hand before you start cooking.

Essential Ingredients:

1. Dried Chili Peppers – Depending on your preference, you can use a combination of different chili peppers. Common types include Ancho, Guajillo, and Pasilla.
2. Onion – One medium-sized onion will do for a standard batch of homemade enchilada sauce.
3. Garlic – You can choose to use fresh garlic cloves or pre-minced garlic from a jar.
4. Tomato Sauce – Look for a plain tomato sauce without any added seasonings.
5. Chicken or Vegetable Stock – This will add depth of flavor to your enchilada sauce.
6. Spices – You will need chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.

Equipment:

1. Large Saucepan – This will be used to cook the sauce.
2. Blender or Food Processor – This will be used to puree the sauce to a smooth texture.
3. Strainer – This is optional, but if you prefer a smoother sauce, a strainer can be used to remove any remaining bits and pieces.
4. Measuring Cups and Spoons – To accurately measure out your ingredients.
5. Wooden Spoon – To stir the sauce as it cooks.
6. Glass Jars – These are great for storing and preserving leftover enchilada sauce.

Choosing the Right Ingredients

When selecting your ingredients, it’s essential to choose high-quality items. When it comes to the dried chili peppers, you want to make sure they are fresh and fragrant. Stale peppers will lose their flavor, so it’s essential to use ones that are within the expiration date and smell fresh.

When it comes to the onion and garlic, many people prefer to use fresh as opposed to jarred or dried. This is entirely up to personal preference, but keep in mind that fresh garlic and onion will give the sauce a stronger taste.

For the tomato sauce, make sure to choose a high-quality brand that doesn’t have any artificial preservatives or flavorings. Lastly, when choosing your spices, make sure to use fresh ones for a more intense flavor. Using old or expired spices will result in a bland sauce.

Measuring Your Ingredients

To make sure your enchilada sauce turns out perfectly every time, it’s essential to measure your ingredients accurately. Use measuring cups for liquids and measuring spoons for dry ingredients.

Pro tip: When measuring out chili powder, use a level measurement instead of heaping it. This will ensure the correct ratio of spices in the sauce.

Preparing Your Dried Chili Peppers

To prepare your dried chili peppers for your enchilada sauce, you must remove the stem and seeds. Follow these steps for perfect chili peppers:

1. Cut off the stem of the chili pepper using kitchen scissors or a knife.
2. Gently shake out any loose seeds.
3. If any seeds remain, scrape them out using a spoon.

Pro tip: Wear gloves when working with chili peppers to prevent any irritation or burning sensations on your skin.

Soaking Your Chili Peppers

Before you puree your chili peppers, you’ll need to soak them in hot water. Soaking them helps to rehydrate the peppers and make them more pliable for pureeing.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Place the chili peppers in a large bowl.
2. Pour boiling water over the peppers, making sure they’re fully submerged.
3. Cover the bowl with a plate or lid and let them soak for 20-30 minutes.

Pro tip: Don’t discard the soaking liquid! You can add it to your enchilada sauce later for extra flavor.

Pureeing Your Sauce

After your chili peppers have soaked, you can begin pureeing them. Add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and puree until you reach a smooth consistency.

Pro tip: If the sauce is too thick, you can always add more chicken or vegetable stock until the desired consistency is achieved.

Cooking Your Sauce

Once you’ve pureed the sauce, it’s time to cook it. Add the sauce to a large saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pro tip: If the sauce seems too thick, you can add more chicken or vegetable stock to thin it out.

Storing Your Enchilada Sauce

When your enchilada sauce has finished cooking, you can store it in glass jars with airtight lids. The sauce will keep for up to 1-2 weeks in the fridge or up to 4-6 months in the freezer.

Pro tip: Freeze the sauce in small batches so you can easily thaw only what you need for your next meal.

Ingredients

Making enchilada sauce at home is a great way to add a personal touch to your delicious Mexican food. Using fresh ingredients will always make your homemade enchilada sauce taste much better than store-bought canned sauces. Here are some of the essential ingredients that you will need to create a homemade enchilada sauce:

Preparing the Chilies

The first step in making homemade enchilada sauce is preparing the dried chilies. Take a pan and place it over medium heat. Lightly toast the dried ancho and guajillo chilies for about 1-2 minutes or until they become fragrant. Make sure to turn them halfway to ensure the chilies do not burn. Then, remove the stems and seeds from the toasted chilies, and set them aside.

Making the Sauce Base

Now that you have prepared the chilies let’s move on to making the sauce base. Take a pan and heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil for about 30-60 seconds. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Once the garlic starts turning golden, add the canned tomato sauce, and mix well. Cook for about 7-10 minutes or until the tomato sauce starts to thicken.

Blending it All Together

Now comes the most crucial step in making homemade enchilada sauce, blending all the ingredients together. Take the saucepan off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then, transfer the tomato sauce mixture and the toasted chilies to a blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes or until smooth. You may add some chicken or vegetable broth to the blender to achieve a smooth texture.

Adjusting the Flavors

Once everything is blended, transfer the mixture back to a pan, and simmer for an additional 15-20 minutes. This will allow all the flavors to blend together and the sauce to thicken. While the sauce is cooking, you can adjust the flavor to your preference. Add salt, black pepper, sugar, ground cumin and coriander, dried oregano to taste.

That’s it! By following these simple steps, you can make homemade enchilada sauce that is tasty and authentic. The sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Use it to cook your favourite Mexican recipes and enjoy the homemade taste in every bite.

Happy Enchilada Making!

I hope you found this article helpful in creating your own homemade enchilada sauce. Remember, cooking is all about experimenting and finding what works for you. Practice makes perfect, and with each attempt, your sauce will only get better and better. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to visit again later for more recipes and tips. Happy cooking!