Easy Method Basic Mexican Red Sauce

10m
Prep Time
40m
Cook Time
50m
Ready In


"This is a recipe I have worked on for a number of years. It's a wonderful, rich sauce that can be used as an enchilada sauce, as a topping for any of your beef or chicken dishes, or as a base for soups. It's really versatile. Make it your own, as I did. Additional heat can be had by adding more chile powder or even some hot sauce, if desired."

Original is 10-12 servings

Nutritional

  • Serving Size: 1 (117 g)
  • Calories 157.5
  • Total Fat - 8 g
  • Saturated Fat - 2.3 g
  • Cholesterol - 60.7 mg
  • Sodium - 750.4 mg
  • Total Carbohydrate - 11.1 g
  • Dietary Fiber - 2.3 g
  • Sugars - 3.7 g
  • Protein - 10.7 g
  • Calcium - 78 mg
  • Iron - 2.2 mg
  • Vitamin C - 4.6 mg
  • Thiamin - 0.1 mg

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Cook and stir the onions and garlic in the oil in a 2 qt. saucepan until onion is tender.

Step 2

Add the chile powder and the chicken broth, mix well, then add the tomato sauce, oregano, cumin seed and chocolate.

Step 3

Simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes, sauce should be somewhat thickened.

Step 4

Cool.

Step 5

Transfer to blender. Being careful to keep the lid on the blender, process until smooth.

Step 6

Refrigerate no longer than 10 days.

Tips


No special items needed.

Editorial Notes

The ingredient tips, suggestions, variations, facts, questions and answers below are not edits to the original author's recipe. They are not meant to imply any change would improve the recipe. They're offered for convenience, alternative ideas, and points of interest. If you have any comments about them, please post in the Help & Ideas forum.


  • When buying chile powder, look for a good quality brand with no additives.
  • When selecting the Hershey's Dark Chocolate, use a bar that is at least 50% cocoa.

  • Substitute olive oil for vegetable oil: Olive oil is a healthier alternative to vegetable oil, as it contains more beneficial fats and is lower in saturated fat. This substitution will make the sauce more nutritious while still providing a flavorful base.
  • Substitute cocoa powder for Hershey's Dark Chocolate: Cocoa powder is a healthier alternative to chocolate, as it is lower in sugar and fat. This substitution will make the sauce more nutritious while still providing the same depth of flavor.

Vegetarian Red Sauce Substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth and omit the chocolate. Cook and stir the onions and garlic in the oil in a 2 qt. saucepan until onion is tender. Add the chile powder and the vegetable broth, mix well, then add the tomato sauce, oregano, and cumin seed. Simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes, sauce should be somewhat thickened. Cool. Transfer to blender. Being careful to keep the lid on the blender, process until smooth. Refrigerate no longer than 10 days.


Vegan Red Sauce Substitute vegan broth for the vegetable broth and omit the chocolate. Cook and stir the onions and garlic in the oil in a 2 qt. saucepan until onion is tender. Add the chile powder and the vegan broth, mix well, then add the tomato sauce, oregano, and cumin seed. Simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes, sauce should be somewhat thickened. Cool. Transfer to blender. Being careful to keep the lid on the blender, process until smooth. Refrigerate no longer than 10 days.


Chicken Enchiladas with Mexican Red Sauce - This dish is a great way to enjoy the Mexican Red Sauce, as the sauce is used as an enchilada filling. The combination of the sauce, chicken, and cheese is sure to be a hit with everyone!


Mexican Rice: Mexican Rice is a great side dish to serve with Chicken Enchiladas with Mexican Red Sauce. The combination of the rice and the enchiladas creates a delicious and flavorful meal that everyone will love. The Mexican Rice is also a great way to add a bit of texture and flavor to the dish.




FAQ

Q: How much chocolate should I use?

A: Use between 1/2 to 1 ounce of Hershey's Dark Chocolate for the best flavor. If you want more heat, you can add more chile powder or hot sauce.



Q: How long should I cook the chocolate?

A: Cook the chocolate until it is melted and smooth, stirring occasionally. This should take about 5 minutes.

2 Reviews

ArleneG

This is a great all around sauce for burritos, enchiladas and other Mexican food. We really love it and I use it quite often when we are having Mexican.

5.0

review by:
(24 May 2013)

LindasBusyKitchen

My friend is here from NC and I wanted to make some burritos for us for lunch, so I made this sauce up ahead of time and gave it a day for the flavors to really mingle. It was the perfect sauce and so delicious! I will use this all the time now! Thanks for sharing it with us Cooks! Linda

5.0

(12 Feb 2012)

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Fun facts:

The recipe for Easy Method Basic Mexican Red Sauce contains an unusual ingredient - Hershey's Dark Chocolate. This is a relatively modern addition to the dish, as the original recipe was created in the late 1800s without it.

The combination of chile powder, tomato sauce, and chocolate was popularized by the celebrity chef Rick Bayless, who has won multiple James Beard Awards for his work in Mexican cuisine.