Authentic Red Enchilada Sauce

4 from 19 votes

This authentic red enchilada sauce is rich, smoky, and made from real dried chiles—perfect for adding bold Mexican flavor to any dish.

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Soaking Time30

Total Time40

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Servings: cups

Calories: 107kcal

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Remove stems and seeds from dried chilies and place on a baking sheet. Add the garlic to the baking sheet as well. Roast for 2-5 minutes. The chiles will start to smell sweet. You don’t want them to burn, so watch them carefully!
5 oz Dried New Mexico Red Chilies, 4 Dried Ancho Chilies, 5 garlic cloves
Remove the chilies and add them to a bowl of hot water; allow them to rehydrate for 30 minutes. Return the garlic to the oven to continue roasting for another 10 minutes.
After 30 minutes, add the chiles, garlic, cumin, salt, onion powder, and 3 cups of water that the chiles were soaking in into a food processor. Process until smooth. You can use the sauce as is or strain it to get any extra pepper pieces out.
2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 3 cups water
Use on tacos or enchiladas! Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

Strain for a smooth sauce if needed.
Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. or freeze for up to 3 months.