Quickie Enchilada Sauce

I'm so thankful for all the Latin influences in our local cuisine - bright and fresh and flavorful. Often, when I'm craving food that tastes like home, I want something with a chile kick. Enchilada sauce is a great way to give a whole host of foods a little chile flair. When I have time, I prefer to make enchilada sauce with whole dried chiles, but I've found this corner-cutting version to be nearly as tasty, without all the work of toasting and soaking chiles.

I almost always have some of this enchilada sauce in the fridge, just because it makes such a great condiment. It's perfection braised with a roast in the crock pot. Try adding a spoonful to soups or omelets, or use it as a sandwich spread. Toss shrimp in it, or ladle it over stuffed onions or chiles. One of my favorite ways to eat enchilada sauce is to warm some in a pan, then fry an egg in it. Or for a more decadent breakfast, heat the sauce, throw in some shredded corn tortillas (or chips, if you must), and then cook an egg in it. Mmmm.


Quickie Enchilada Sauce


one medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp. ancho chile powder*
1 tsp. chipotle chile powder
1 quart** diced tomatoes in their juice
1 tsp. palm sugar
1 Tbsp. lime juice
salt and pepper to taste

Saute onion, garlic, and chile powders in lard until veg are tender and the chile powders are fragrant. Add remaining ingredients, and simmer over medium heat for five minutes. Puree in blender, adjust seasonings.

To make this recipe less spicy, reduce the amount of chipotle powder used.


*If you are gluten-sensitive, be sure to call the manufacturer to make certain your chile powders are gluten-free.

**In order to minimize BPA risk, try to choose tomatoes which are home-canned or sold in a glass jar, rather than cans.


Because this is a really fast and inexpensive sauce to make at home, I'm sharing this recipe with Alea's Real Food Deals. Everyone loves a bargain, right? So please follow the link and save some money on real and wholesome food!