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

FAQs

What to use if I don't have enchilada sauce? ›

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.

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.

Ingredients. Water, Tomato Puree (water, tomato paste), Modified Corn Starch. Contains 2% or less of: Sugar, Salt, Chile Pepper, Soybean Oil, Vinegar, Spice, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Onion Powder, Natural Flavor, Color (black carrot and paprika extract).

Pre-fry your tortillas

Fry each of your tortillas in hot oil before adding in your enchilada filling. This will help keep the tortillas from soaking up too much of your sauce too quickly, which can also cause them to break apart.

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

This rich concoction gets its flavor from tomatoes, chili powder, and other spicy seasonings. Green enchilada sauce follows the same basic formula but adds fresh green chiles for a brighter taste. Westernized white enchilada sauce is usually dairy-based and uses cream soup or stock to deepen the flavor.

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.

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

Short Answer: Not Exactly

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.

How to tell if enchilada sauce is bad? ›

If the enchilada sauce has an unpleasant odor, it has gone bad. A taste test can also tell you if the enchilada sauce is bad, especially when it doesn't taste like enchilada sauce. Other signs of spoilage include the appearance of mold on the surface or a runny texture, which indicates that the sauce is going sour.

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.

Add seasonings - Cumin, chili powder, Mexican oregano, etc. are great ways to punch up the flavor of canned enchilada sauce. You might also consider adding a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.

Chopped tomatoes (37%), water, onion, tomato paste, CREAM (6%), chili pepper garlic puree, sunflower oil, sugar, modified com starch, salt replacer (potassium chloride, natural flavouring, potato maltodextrin, potato starch), salt, acidity regulator (citric acid, lactic acid), firming agent (calcium chloride), dried ...

What Is Enchilada Sauce? Traditional enchilada sauce is the foolproof solution to any dinner dilemma. Ground cumin and garlic powder infuse the tomato-based sauce with tons of bold flavor that pairs well with meats, cheeses, soups, and casseroles. It's a rich and smoky sauce that adds depth to any dish it touches.

Salsa vs Enchilada Sauce

These two sauces might overlap in their ingredients, but the key difference is that enchilada sauce is thin, smooth, and served hot. It's also considered an important part of dishes like enchiladas, while salsa roja is a cold table sauce that can be added to anything.

If you add spices to spaghetti sauce you get enchilada sauce.