5 from 30 votes
Perfect Enchilada Sauce
This enchilada sauce is made by cooking a blend of vegetable oil, flour, and red chili powder into a roux, then gradually whisking in tomato sauce, tomato paste, broth, and spices like cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder. The sauce thickens over medium heat to a smooth consistency, delivering a balanced chili flavor with a mild sweetness from brown sugar and bright acidity from apple cider vinegar. It serves as a foundational red sauce for enchiladas or other Mexican dishes.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings:
4
cups
Calories:
125 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
American, Mexican
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1/4 cup red chili powder use less for a less spicy sauce, ground
- 1 (8oz can) tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cup water vegetable broth or chicken broth for more flavor
- 1 teaspoon cumin ground
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika for more flavor
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar optional, but it balances the flavors nicely
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Start by heating oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Then, add flour and chili powder, and stir together. Instantly reduce heat to medium, and cook the flour-chili blend until lightly brown, stirring constantly to prevent from burning. It only takes about 1 minute to cook it.
- Gradually stir in: tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, brown sugar, and vinegar into the flour and chili powder mix until smooth.
- Continue cooking over medium heat for approximately 8-10 minutes, or until thickened slightly. If the sauce is too thick, add more water or broth, a little at a time.
- Season to taste with salt.
- The recipe makes about 3 1/2 to 4 cups of sauce, depends how thick you like it. Let the sauce fully cool before refrigerating or freezing.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
125kcal
(6%)
Carbohydrates
7g
(2%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Cholesterol
0mg
(0%)
Sodium
185mg
(8%)
Potassium
69mg
(1%)
Fiber
0g
(0%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
305IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
0.9mg
(1%)
Calcium
7mg
(1%)
Iron
0.8mg
(4%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 125
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 125kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 185mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 69mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 305IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 0.9mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 7mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.8mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.