Description
Mexican red enchilada sauce delivers rich, spicy flavors that elevate countless dishes. Home cooks can quickly master this authentic recipe with simple ingredients and minimal preparation time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 3 tbsps chili powder
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil or olive oil
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (optional, for added tang)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Base: Heat oil in a saucepan over medium flame, creating a smooth cooking foundation.
- Create Roux: Whisk flour into hot oil, stirring continuously until mixture turns golden and releases a nutty aroma, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Bloom Spices: Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and smoked paprika into the roux, allowing flavors to intensify for 30 seconds.
- Develop Consistency: Gradually pour broth into spiced mixture, whisking constantly to eliminate potential lumps and create a smooth sauce.
- Simmer and Refine: Reduce heat to low, allowing sauce to gently thicken while stirring periodically, developing rich flavor and ideal texture over 5-7 minutes.
- Season and Finish: Enhance sauce with salt, freshly ground pepper, and a splash of apple cider vinegar, adjusting seasonings to taste for a perfectly balanced enchilada sauce.
- Store and Preserve: Cool sauce completely, then transfer to an airtight container; refrigerate for up to one week or freeze for three months, ready to elevate future Mexican-inspired dishes.
Notes
- Bloom Spices Carefully: Heat releases essential oils and deepens flavor complexity, so toast spices briefly without burning for maximum aromatic impact.
- Whisk Consistently: Smooth sauce requires constant stirring to prevent flour clumping and ensure uniform texture, using gentle circular motions.
- Control Heat Precisely: Medium-low flame prevents scorching and allows gradual thickening, creating silky sauce without bitter undertones.
- Adjust Seasoning Strategically: Taste repeatedly during cooking, adding vinegar or salt incrementally to balance spice intensity and develop layered flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg