Homemade Enchilada Sauce From Dried Chilis Recipes

AUTHENTIC ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Start with that all important step: Roasting! Heat a heavy non-stick skillet (I like to use cast iron) over medium-high heat. Don't add any oil. Lay the dried peppers on the skillet and toast them for a minute or two on each, just until they become very fragrant. It's better to under-toast than to over-toast them as they will become very bitter if scorched. Remove and set aside. Next place the onion, garlic and tomatoes on the skillet and toast until lightly browned.
• Remove the stems from the peppers (using gloves if you're using hot peppers), slice the peppers open and remove and discard all of the seeds and the membranes (contrary to popular belief, it's the membranes not the seeds that are hot, the seeds are bitter). Place the peppers in a bowl.Pour the boiling water over the peppers, cover the bowl and let them sit for 20-30 minutes until soft.
• Place the peppers and their liquid along with the onion, tomato, garlic and all remaining ingredients (except for the chocolate if using) in a blender and blend until completely smooth.Note: At this point determine for yourself whether your sauce needs to be strained. I use a Vitamix blender which does an excellent job of blending the sauce to a very smooth puree, so I don't bother straining it.
• Time to cook the sauce: Heat a tablespoon or so of oil to a pot then add red sauce. Simmer it uncovered for about 30 minutes. Add a little more water if you prefer it thinner. The sauce should be the thickness of heavy cream.Optional: For an added flavor touch, add a small piece of semi-sweet chocolate at the end and stir until melted.If the sauce is very bitter, add a touch of brown sugar. SEE NOTE.
• Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze it for several months. I like to freeze about a cup of it per freezer bag so I can conveniently grab a bag as needed.Makes approx. 5-6 cups.

THE BEST RED ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Arrange the ancho chiles on a baking sheet and toast in the preheated oven 3 to 4 minutes; remove the stems, pulp, and seeds from the toasted peppers. Place peppers in a bowl and pour enough hot water into bowl to cover completely; allow to soak for 1 hour.
• Combine the ancho chiles, tomato paste, corn oil, garlic, salt, oregano, cumin, and about 1 cup of the beef broth in a blender; blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a saucepan with the remaining beef broth and place over medium heat; simmer until heated through, about 10 minutes.

AUTHENTIC DRIED CHILE-PEPITO ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil, and set aside. Rinse and pat the ancho chiles dry, then tear out the stems and cores, and tear open the chiles. Scrape out seeds and veins, leaving the flesh intact. Tear the chiles into 1- to 2-inch pieces.
• Place the ancho pieces, onion, and garlic into a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, and toast, stirring constantly, until the chiles are fragrant and show browned spots, about 5 minutes. In a small separate skillet over medium heat, toast the ground cumin just until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Watch carefully, the cumin will burn easily. Pour the toasted cumin into the skillet with the ancho mixture; pour in the hot water.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the ancho peppers are rehydrated and moist and the mixture is reduced, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt, agave syrup, and lemon juice. Remove from heat and let cool for about 15 minutes.
• Pour the ancho mixture into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the mixture moving before leaving it on to puree. Stop the blender after about 30 seconds, and add the chile de arbol peppers, pumpkin seeds, oregano, and roma tomatoes. Puree in batches if needed until smooth and thickened.
• Return the blended sauce to the cast-iron skillet, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, for about 15 more minutes to blend flavors.

HOMEMADE ENCHILADA SAUCE (FROM DRIED CHILIS)

Steps:

• 1. First you need to take the chiles and remove the seeds. I break them up, as much as necessary to remove the seeds and the stem area. You should also remove most of the veins if not all. When each one is accomplished, throw it into a pot that can accommodate them and the water. When they are all seeded etc. put it on the stove with the water and turn it on to a low heat. Now add the coarsely chopped onion and garlic along with your tomatoes, also coarsely chopped. You are trying to soften chiles but they should also smell good too. This process should take about 5 minutes. When the chiles are softened, you need to in batches put it in your blender and add the cumin, celery salt, beef broth powder and Mexican oregano. A lot of this is done by taste again, after it is cooking again. From the blender you will pour it into a wire sieve over a bowl or pot that can handle the amount you are doing. Do this in batches as well. Use a spoon and keep pushing the juice through, till all you have left in there is the pulp. I keep a trash can right there by me for this. I then take the sieve and empty it in the trash. When all of your sauce is done, pour it into your pan again and cook it at a low heat to blend the spices in. Here is where your taste test comes in and you check the consistency of your sauce. If it is too thick, you can add some water. If it is too thin, you can add some tomato puree, some tomato paste, or you can do a flour mixture as if you were making gravy. You can always add some chili powder and more cumin and celery salt if it is too mild. The tomato sauce or puree will help also if it is too hot. (*I always use celery salt when using cumin, as cumin seems to suck out the salt, so if you use the cumin always add the celery salt.*) YOUR SAUCE IS NOW READY FOR USE!
• 2. NOTE: Sometimes during the blending process I add some beef powder, (bouillon) or chicken powder (bouillon) to the sauce, depending on which kind of meat I will be using it with. I also sometimes add a bit of cocoa for darkening if it is too red, and chili powder, for added flavor. (Cocoa also helps with ridding it of any bitterness, besides making the color a bit richer). Experiment with it, make it yours, if you like.

ANCHO CHILE SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Hydrate dried peppers. Place the dried chiles in a medium-sized sauce pot and add just enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil, and then cover the pot and and turn off the heat. Let the chiles hydrate in the hot water until they're soft, at least 20 minutes.
• Prep peppers. Remove the chiles from the pot. Use your hands or a paring knife to gently remove the stems and seeds. Add the hydrated chiles to the blender. (If you're very sensitive to the heat, I suggest wearing cooking gloves.) Remove 1 cup of the hydrating liquid from the pot and pour it in the blender. (Do not throw out remaining liquid as you can use it as a stock in other recipes.)
• Add remaining ingredients to blender and blend. Add the stock, sugar, garlic, spices, salt and pepper to the blender. Purée in the blender until the mixture is as smooth as possible. Season to taste with salt and sugar if necessary. (Here's how.)
• Use or store. Stir in the oil and it's ready to use. Or, pour the sauce into a storage container with a tight sealing lid, and place in the refrigerator, where it should keep for at least 3 weeks.

HOMEMADE RED ENCHILADA SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Toast the chiles in a hot pan until fragrant. (about 10 to 15 seconds per side)
• Allow chiles to cool and then remove stems, seeds, and veins.
• Char the onion, tomatoes, and garlic in a hot pan.
• Place the chiles, onion, tomatoes, garlic oregano and marjoram in a pot with just enough water until the ingredients are almost covered.
• Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low.
• Simmer for 15 minutes to reconstitute the chiles and soften the veggies.
• Blend the chiles, onion, tomatoes, garlic, oregano marjoram, and the soaking water until smooth. It usually takes about a minute.
• Add water little by little if necessary to blend. You may have to blend in two batches
• Strain the mixture.
• Add two tablespoons of cooking oil to a hot pan add the strained sauce to fry it.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
• Add salt to taste.
• Allow the sauce to sit for at least 2 hours so that the flavors meld.
• Warm the sauce before serving.