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5.0 from 99 votes

Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe (Red Enchilada Sauce)

This homemade red enchilada sauce is easy to make, made with dried Mexican chilies for more authentic flavor for the best enchiladas you'll ever have. It is a deeply rich and flavorful sauce, one of my very favorites for homemade enchiladas.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 19 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 4 dried ancho peppers (stemmed and seeded)
  • 4 dried Guajillo peppers (stemmed and seeded)
  • 4 dried chiles de arbol (stemmed and seeded)
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt (or to taste)
  • Water as needed

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Dry toast the dried chili peppers (stemmed and seeds removed) in a heated pan over medium heat. Toast them a couple minutes per side, until they start to puff up slightly.
  2. Cool, then set them into a heavy bowl with enough hot water to cover them.
  3. Let them soak for 20 minutes, or until they become very soft. Remove them and place them in a blender or food processor.
  4. Reserve 1 cup of the dark soaking water.
  5. In the same heated pan, heat the vegetable oil. Cook the onion for 5 minutes, or until it becomes translucent.
  6. Add the garlic and cook another minute, until fragrant.
  7. Add them to the food processor along with the sea salt.
  8. Pour in 1 cup of the reserved soaking liquid (or use fresh water or stock) and process to form a sauce. It will be very thick at this point.
  9. Add in more water or stock, a half cup at a time, until you achieve your desired consistency.
  10. Strain, if desired. Adjust for salt and serve as needed.

Notes

  • Makes about 2-1/2 cups.
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Nutrition Information

Calories 19kcal (1%) Carbohydrates 3g (1%) Sodium 777mg (32%) Potassium 53mg (2%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 265IU (5%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 8mg (1%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 19

% Daily Value*

Calories 19kcal 1%
Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Sodium 777mg 32%
Potassium 53mg 1%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 265IU 5%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.