Easy Red Enchilada Sauce {15 minute Recipe} (2024)

FAQs

How to make enchilada sauce better? ›

Improving upon canned enchilada sauce

If you're using fresh garlic, onion, or peppers, sauté those first in a bit of oil, then combine the butter, stock, and seasonings. Mix in the flour to thicken it, then pour in that canned enchilada sauce, and bring the mixture to a boil.

The main difference is that red sauce is made from dried red chile peppers instead of green peppers, and the spices used are sometimes slightly different. This sauce has vinegar, garlic, onions, and other spices like oregano, chili powder, and basil.

Tomato sauce is a good way to replace enchilada sauce if you're looking for a milder alternative. It's easy to take a pre-made tomato sauce and spice it and add other ingredients to get closer to a real enchilada sauce.

Red enchilada sauce may also be called salsa roja, salsa roja para enchiladas or mole rojo. It is a sauce made out of ancho/ pasilla/New Mexico and/or Cascabel chiles, onion, garlic, tomatoes, broth, cumin, oregano, etc. all blended together then simmered until thickened.

Toppings: When it comes to enchiladas, I vote the more toppings the merrier! Any combination of chopped fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, diced red onion (or quick pickled red onions), sliced radishes, fresh or pickled jalapeños, sour cream or Mexican crema, and/or extra cheese would be delicious!

The most important tip for avoiding soggy enchiladas is to briefly fry your tortillas in hot oil before you fill and roll. This creates a little bit of a barrier so that the tortillas don't soak up too much of the sauce and therefore start to break down.

Taco Bell's red sauce is indeed a flavorful blend, but it's not the same as traditional enchilada sauce. While both can boast of being zesty and packed with Mexican-inspired spices, they have their own unique recipes and uses. Taco Bell's red sauce is designed specifically to complement their menu items.

In New Mexico, it's red chile sauce or New Mexico red sauce. In the rest of the country, it's enchilada sauce. There is no tomato in this sauce – the red comes from red chiles, as it should. It's merely a matter cooking up some onions and garlic and then mixing the rest of the ingredients in.

It comes from a combination of dried spices, which are sautéed in oil to bring out their best, and umami-rich tomato paste. The cinnamon is optional since some people just don't like it in savory applications, but just a pinch adds some lovely warmth and complexity.

Use Las Palmas® Mild Red Enchilada Sauce to make a delicious Mexican staple. Offering a mild level of spice to enhance but not overpower your enchiladas, this sauce is sure to make your meal a hit.

What is the red sauce in Mexican restaurants? ›

Salsa roja ( lit. 'red sauce') is a type of spicy red sauce in Mexican cuisine. It is made of jitomate (red tomato), ground with onion, garlic, chilli, salt and pepper to taste.

The most common “red” enchilada sauce may also be called salsa roja, salsa roja para enchiladas, or mole rojo. This is a sauce made out of ancho/pasilla/New Mexico and/or Cascabel chiles, onion, garlic, tomatoes, broth, cumin, oregano, etc.

Red Chile sauce can be made with various types of red chiles, depending on regional preferences and personal taste. Common varieties include New Mexico chiles, guajillo, ancho, and pasilla chiles.

- Add cumin, chili powder, and oregano: These spices will give the sauce a deep and rich flavor. - Add canned green chilies: This will give the sauce a bit of heat. - Add chocolate: This will give the sauce a smooth and rich flavor. - Add beer: This will give the sauce a deep and robust flavor.

Shop around to get a brand you favor, but if the can you just purchased isn't quite to your liking, there's an easy fix. Before you assemble your enchiladas, heat the sauce up and whisk in a little flour and sugar to taste. The flour will neutralize some of the bitterness and thicken the sauce a bit in the process.

Dairy has a natural ability to counteract spiciness, so a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkling of cheese can help tone down the heat. You can also try stirring in things such as butter, cream, or yogurt. In addition to that, you can also try making a cream or sauce that can be added on top of the dish.