Best 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.

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.