Description
A simple and flavorful homemade enchilada sauce made from scratch with a blend of chili powder, spices, tomato paste, and broth. Perfect for enchiladas, tacos, burritos, or as a versatile Mexican-inspired sauce to add depth and heat to your dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Spices
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Other Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
Instructions
- Heat the oil and make a roux: In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to form a smooth roux which will thicken the sauce.
- Add spices: Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and salt. Continue stirring for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the spices become fragrant, enhancing the sauce’s depth of flavor.
- Incorporate tomato paste: Whisk in the tomato paste until fully combined with the roux and spices, creating a rich, concentrated base for the sauce.
- Add broth gradually: Slowly pour in the chicken or vegetable broth while whisking continuously. This prevents lumps and ensures a smooth, even sauce consistency.
- Simmer the sauce: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and flavors meld beautifully.
- Adjust seasoning and store: Taste the sauce and adjust the salt or spices if needed. Use immediately or let cool and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
- For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce while cooking.
- This sauce freezes well; consider doubling the recipe for batch cooking.
- Use this sauce not only for enchiladas but also for tacos, burritos, or as a simmer sauce to add rich flavor to your dishes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Calories: 40
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
