21 Authentic Red Enchilada Sauce: A MUST for Cinco de Mayo Recipes!

This is a rich, creamy tomato based sauce that you can adjust the heat level from extra mild to please your pickiest eaters or to lip smackin' hot for the "seasoned" eaters in your family.

In Hispanic cooking, this is liquid gold, a.k.a. Enchilada Sauce.

This recipe comes from my friend who lived in Mexico for a few years and can attest to its authenticy.  You can get it from a can or make it in 15 minutes flat. 

Really.  It's easy.  Watch....it only takes six ingredients.

Use this secret ingredient:  Knorr's Caldo de Tomate.  This is a tomato/chicken bouillon with a blend of spices that are popular in Mexican cuisine.

I use it in my Tacquitos, Chicken Enchiladas, Tamales, Cheese Enchiladas and Mexican Rice.

You can find it at Walmart in the Hispanic aisle.  Don't be nervous about my ginormous 2.2 pound size container.  It does come in a smaller bottle for about $3.  It keeps well in the fridge for a long time.

1 Tablespoon is all you need.  Add this to some canned tomato sauce.

Another secret ingredient.  Dark Chili powder.  Yes, the color makes the difference...

this is where you adjust the heat....1 Tablespoon for mild, up to 5 Tablespoons for extra hot!

Fresh garlic.  Gotta have it.  I freeze it, peels easily and press it in a garlic press...

add some all purpose flour for a thickener.  This is where having a blender or an immersion blender is handy; it mixes all the lumps out and makes a very smooth sauce.

Add chicken base.  It's like a thick, bouillon paste.  If you don't have chicken base, you can add 2 cups of chicken broth.

Here, I add 2 cups of water because I am using the concentrated chicken base.

Blend away!

I really like this whisk from Pampered Chef.

It reaches all the corners of the pan and ensures a lump-free, smooth and creamy sauce.

Add 1 Tablespoon of canola or vegetable oil to the pan.  Add the enchilada sauce and turn the stove to medium-high.

Stir for about 5 minutes or until thick and bubbly.

There you have it.  The best enchilada sauce ever, because it was made by YOU!

Feliz cinco de Mayo!!

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Red Enchilada Sauce

by Frieda Franchina, May-03-2011

This enchilada sauce is almost as easy as opening a can, yet tastes so much better! You can adjust the level of spiciness, or heat, by adjusting the amount of chili powder used. Caldo de Tomate is a tomato/chicken bouillon that can be found in the Hispanic or International aisle of your grocery store.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of tomato sauce (half of an 8oz can)
• 1 Tablespoon of Caldo de Tomate* powder (I use Knorr's)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons - 5 Tablespoons dark chili powder (I use 1 Tablespoon for mild)
• 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon chicken flavor Better than Bouillon** (chicken base)

*If you cannot find Caldo de Tomate, use 3-4 Tablespoons mild chili powder, 1 small onion, chopped, and 1/8 teaspoon cumin powder.
**You can use 2 cups of chicken broth in place of chicken base and water.
Instructions

1. Put all ingredients in a blender. Mix till smooth.2. In a medium sauce pan, put 1 Tablespoon of oil.3. Put saucepan over stove set on medium-high heat.4. Pour the sauce mixture into the pan.5. Cook until bubbly and thick, stirring continually, for about 5-7 minutes.
Use in recipes that call for enchilada sauce: soups, enchiladas, tamales, etc.
Details

Prep time: 2 mins Cook time: 7 mins Total time:  10 mins Yield: 2 cups