Enchilada Sauce Ready In 15 Minutes Wellplated Com

If up until this point, you’ve been reaching for the red enchilada sauce can, the next time you are cooking Mexican, give this from-scratch recipe a try. Not only does this easy red enchilada sauce beat the pants off of whatever you’ll find on a store shelf, but you’ll also feel great knowing what’s in it. The flavor is delightfully smoky, and you can adjust the spice level to your taste. This recipe is also much lower in sodium than canned enchilada sauce brands. In fact, the high sodium level in store-bought sauce is what prompted me to try making this homemade version in the first place. I was thrilled to find out how easy (and better tasting!) it is when you DIY. While it might not be the most authentic enchilada sauce recipe per se, this speedier version still boasts classic, restaurant-style enchilada sauce flavor, and it’s completely attainable on a weeknight. WIN! This sauce recipe also yields a good amount (3 1/2 cups, or the equivalent of nearly three 10-ounce cans or two 14-ounce cans). You can use it in recipes that call for a larger amount of sauce or freeze it in individual portions, then reach for one whenever a recipe calls for canned sauce. Once you try this easy homemade recipe, you’ll want to add it to everything you eat! See “Ways to Use This Homemade Sauce” below for tasty ideas.

What is Red Enchilada Sauce

Red enchilada sauce is a type of Mexican red chili sauce. Chili sauce is used as a general term for a spicy sauce that can be made of one of a variety of peppers. In the case of red chili sauce, those chilis are (as you have no doubt deduced) red. If you prefer to use taco sauce instead of enchilada sauce in a recipe, I’d suggest blending it in a food processor or blender with a chipotle pepper in adobo or two to amp up its flavor and add other spices like garlic and oregano to taste. Chili sauce can be found in both Asian and Mexican cuisine, but the flavors of the two are different, because different spices and herbs are added to each. They also have different bases. Asian chili sauce is usually more oil based, while Mexican red chili sauce (like this recipe) is tomato based. My hunch is that the name “enchilada” was added later on, since enchiladas are a popular way to use Mexican red chile sauce.

The Spices in Enchilada Sauce

The spices used in enchilada sauce can vary based on the recipe. Chili powder, cumin, oregano, and even cinnamon are common. Most sauces also start with a roux, which requires cooking flour on the stove in oil, then slowly splashing in liquid. I managed to avoid the roux step by blending a chipotle chile pepper in adobo right into the sauce to thicken it instead. Also, please note that this homemade sauce won’t taste exactly like the kind you may be used to in a can. I’d argue it is much, much better, but if you don’t care for the smoky flavor of chipotle, this is probably not the sauce recipe for you.

Both the peppers and the sauce have an incredibly rich, smoky flavor.You can find chipotle peppers in a can in the Hispanic section of most grocery stores.

If you are extra sensitive to spice, feel free to leave out the pepper and use the adobo sauce from the can only.

How to Make Enchilada Sauce from Scratch

Red enchilada sauce made of tomato sauce, garlic, basic seasonings, and a smoky, spicy element like chipotles in adobo. Unlike the canned version, this sauce is made with simple, everyday ingredients and its flavor is far superior. It is the BEST enchilada sauce!

The Ingredients

Tomato Sauce. The base for our easy red enchilada sauce. It brings a rich, developed flavor, helping to make this a quick enchilada sauce that tastes like it has been cooking for hours.Canned Chipotle Peppers. For smoky flavor and spice! For tips on where to find them, see the section “What Are Chipotle Chile Peppers” above.Adobo Sauce. This is a bonus and comes in the can with the chipotle peppers. It’s spicy, earthy, and gives the sauce a unique, memorable flavor.Simple Seasoning. I used a mixture of garlic, salt, and pepper.Coconut Sugar. Natural sugar with a subtle sweetness and caramel flavor to complement the heat of the chipotles. The sauce isn’t sweet; the sugar is here for balance.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate leftover sauce in an airtight storage container or jar for up to 1 week.To Reheat. Gently rewarm sauce in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat.To Freeze. Portion the sauce into individual containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight or (if you are in a big hurry) reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Immersion Blender. An easy way to make smooth enchilada sauce.Mason Jars. Both this smaller size and larger size would be great for storing and freezing leftover sauce. This option is great if you want to stock up on these jars.Small Whisk. The perfect size for mixing sauce ingredients without splashing everywhere.