Spice Up Your Table: Sizzling Enchilada Sauce Recipe

Crafting the perfect enchilada sauce recipe adds a burst of authentic Mexican flavor to your kitchen creations.

Bold spices dance together, creating a rich and vibrant sauce that elevates any dish.

Home cooks know this homemade version surpasses store-bought alternatives with its deep, complex profile.

Every kitchen should have this simple yet magical recipe tucked away for quick and delicious meals.

Chile peppers and aromatic seasonings blend seamlessly to deliver a sauce that’s both comforting and exciting.

The magic happens in just minutes, transforming ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary.

How To Store Enchilada Sauce For Weeknight Meals

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store homemade enchilada sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor retention.
• Freezing Technique: Pour cooled sauce into freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays, allowing easy portioning and storage for up to 3 months without losing its robust taste.
• Reheating Magic: Warm the sauce gently in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally to restore its original smooth consistency and prevent separation of ingredients.
• Flavor Boost Trick: When reheating, consider adding a splash of broth or water to revive the sauce's moisture and maintain its original vibrant texture and taste.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 80 kcal

Servings: 3

What You’ll Need To Make Enchilada Sauce At Home

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates silky smooth texture and helps sauce cling perfectly to dishes.
• Vegetable Oil: Provides neutral cooking foundation for developing rich, deep sauce flavors.

• Chili Powder: Delivers warm, earthy southwestern punch with mild heat undertones.
• Cumin: Adds smoky, nutty depth characteristic of authentic Mexican cuisine.
• Garlic Powder: Introduces robust, aromatic background note without overwhelming complexity.
• Oregano: Contributes subtle herbal brightness and traditional southwestern essence.

• Tomato Paste: Concentrates tangy, deep tomato flavor and provides vibrant red color.
• Chicken Broth: Builds savory liquid base with gentle, comforting undertone.
• Water: Helps achieve perfect sauce consistency and balance ingredient intensities.

Tools To Blend And Simmer Enchilada Sauce Smoothly

• Large Saucepan: Essential for cooking the enchilada sauce base, with enough room to whisk ingredients smoothly.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending flour and oil without lumps, creating a silky smooth sauce texture.
• Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately measure flour and oil for consistent results.
• Wooden Spoon: Backup tool for stirring if needed, provides good control over heat.
• Measuring Cups: Ensures precise ingredient quantities for a balanced sauce flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions For Enchilada Sauce

• Saucepan Warmup

Get your favorite saucepan and pour in some oil, setting the heat to a gentle medium flame. The goal is creating a warm cooking environment that’ll help our sauce develop rich, authentic flavors.

• Flour Magic

Sprinkle in the flour and start whisking with enthusiasm. Keep moving that whisk in smooth, consistent circles for about two minutes. You’re looking for a silky, smooth mixture that’ll give our sauce its perfect body and texture. This step is crucial for building a sauce that clings beautifully to enchiladas, creating a delicious coating that’ll make everyone at the table want seconds.

Ways To Customize Heat In Enchilada Sauce

• Sauce Smoothing Technique: Whisking the flour and oil creates a roux, which prevents lumps and ensures a silky-smooth enchilada sauce texture.
• Temperature Control Trick: Keep the heat at medium to prevent burning the flour, which can make the sauce taste bitter and acrid.
• Dietary Swap Options: Replace wheat flour with gluten-free alternatives like cornstarch or rice flour for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Flavor Boosting Hack: Experiment by adding roasted green chiles, smoked paprika, or a splash of tequila to elevate the sauce's complexity and depth of flavor.

How To Serve Enchilada Sauce With Your Favorite Dishes

• Mexican Fiesta Plating: Drizzle the warm enchilada sauce over freshly rolled enchiladas, creating a vibrant red cascade that covers each golden tortilla completely.
• Garnish Extravaganza: Sprinkle chopped fresh cilantro, crumbled queso fresco, and thinly sliced green onions on top to add color, texture, and authentic Mexican flavor profiles.
• Accompaniment Perfection: Serve alongside fluffy Mexican rice, creamy refried beans, and a small dollop of sour cream to balance the sauce's rich, spicy characteristics.
• Versatile Dipping Delight: Use the enchilada sauce as a zesty dipping condiment for crispy tortilla chips, quesadillas, or as a flavor enhancer for grilled meats and vegetables.

Spicy Enchilada Sauce Recipe

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 3 1x

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Description

Mexican Enchilada Sauce delights culinary enthusiasts with its rich, complex flavors. Homemade sauce offers a superior alternative to store-bought versions, allowing cooks to customize heat and depth for authentic regional dishes.

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Ingredients

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• 2 cups (480ml) vegetable or chicken broth
• 3 tbsps chili powder
• 2 tbsps vegetable oil (or olive oil)
• 2 tbsps all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
• 1 tbsp tomato paste (or ½ cup tomato sauce)
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (or lime juice)
• ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional, for extra depth)
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp salt (adjust to taste)

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Instructions

1. Prepare Roux: Heat oil in a saucepan until shimmering, then whisk flour into the oil, creating a pale, smooth base with a subtle nutty aroma.
2. Spice Infusion: Add minced garlic and chili powder to the roux, stirring rapidly to activate the spices and release their intense fragrance without scorching.
3. Liquid Integration: Pour in vegetable broth, stirring continuously to ensure a silky-smooth texture while incorporating tomato paste to develop a deep, vibrant crimson color.
4. Seasoning Layer: Blend ground cumin, salt, and black pepper into the sauce, allowing the spices to meld and create a complex, multilayered flavor profile.
5. Simmering and Reduction: Lower the heat and let the sauce gently simmer, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and encourage gradual thickening until it reaches a luxurious, velvety consistency that elegantly coats the back of a spoon.
6. Flavor Harmonization: Remove from heat and let the enchilada sauce rest briefly, allowing the aromatic spices and rich ingredients to fully marry and intensify before serving or incorporating into your culinary creation.

Notes

• Prevent Burning Technique: Continuously whisk the roux and spices to avoid scorching, which can create bitter undertones and ruin the sauce’s delicate flavor profile.
• Spice Blooming Trick: Toast chili powder and garlic briefly to intensify their aromatic compounds, releasing deeper, more complex flavor notes before adding liquid.
• Smooth Sauce Strategy: Gradually add broth while whisking to eliminate potential lumps, ensuring a silky, restaurant-quality texture that coats ingredients evenly.
• Consistency Control: Monitor sauce thickness by checking its ability to coat the back of a spoon, adjusting heat and cooking time to achieve perfect viscosity without becoming too thick or thin.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 3
• Calories: 80
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 200mg
• Fat: 4g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 10g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 0mg