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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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)
Instructions
- 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.
- Spice Infusion: Add minced garlic and chili powder to the roux, stirring rapidly to activate the spices and release their intense fragrance without scorching.
- 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.
- Seasoning Layer: Blend ground cumin, salt, and black pepper into the sauce, allowing the spices to meld and create a complex, multilayered flavor profile.
- 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.
- 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