Description
Homemade enchilada sauce elevates Mexican classics with rich, authentic flavors that dance across your palate. Spicy, smoky, and deeply satisfying, this simple sauce brings restaurant-quality charm straight to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, creating a smooth, shimmering base for the enchilada sauce.
- Whisk flour into the heated oil, creating a golden roux that will thicken and enrich the sauce’s texture.
- Mince garlic and add to the roux, stirring continuously to prevent burning and release its aromatic essence.
- Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper into the mixture, allowing the spices to bloom and intensify their flavors.
- Pour in chicken broth and diced tomatoes, stirring to combine and break down any flour lumps.
- Incorporate tomato paste to deepen the sauce’s rich, tangy profile and enhance its vibrant color.
- If desired, add cayenne pepper for an extra kick of heat.
- Simmer the sauce for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to a smooth, velvety consistency.
- Remove from heat and stir in apple cider vinegar, which will brighten the sauce with a subtle tang.
- Use immediately or let cool and store in an airtight container for future Mexican-inspired dishes.
Notes
- Spice Level Customization: Adjust cayenne pepper quantity to match personal heat tolerance, creating a personalized sauce experience.
- Vegetarian Adaptation: Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth for a completely plant-based enchilada sauce without sacrificing depth of flavor.
- Storage Hack: Freeze excess sauce in ice cube trays for convenient single-serving portions, perfect for quick future meal preparations.
- Flavor Boosting Technique: Toast whole spices briefly before grinding to unlock deeper, more complex aromatic notes in the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 75
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg