Easy homemade enchilada sauce

Super easy to prepare, vegan, healthy and easy enchilada sauce.

This simple recipe for homemade enchilada sauce is the only one you’ll need. It’s a great fridge staple that allows you to quickly make healthy and delicious Mexican dishes. This vegan recipe allows you to adjust the spiciness to your liking.

Un frasco de salsa al lado de un chucharon
Authentic red enchilada sauce with tomato sauce and chipotle chili powder.

About this recipe

This easy homemade enchilada sauce recipe is straightforward and a lifesaver when life gets hectic. It’s a great starter to make enchiladas, burritos, chilaquiles, or migas  – anything Mexican. I usually prepare it in large batches, store it in the fridge, or freeze it.

How to make enchilada sauce?

  • Sauté the aromatics. Add the tablespoon of oil and the onion in a saucepan over medium heat. When the onion is translucent, add the garlic and leave for three minutes. Be careful not to let it burn.
  • Add the spices. Add the dried oregano, ground cumin, chipotle powder, and salt. Leave for a minute or until the aroma of the spices is released.
  • Tomato sauce. Add the tomato puree and water; some splatter may happen. Be prepared to clean (have a Bona Mop and Bona surface cleaner).
  • Blend. Using a food processor (affiliate link) or a blender, liquefy until entirely smooth.

How to use the homemade red enchilada sauce?

As I mentioned, this enchilada sauce is so versatile that it can work in many ways: you could use it to make enchiladas, an enchilada casserole, or as a base for a soup, or even as simple salsa for nachos, chilaquiles, quesadillas, or burritos.

want super easy and flavorful enchiladas?

Grab a baking dish (affiliate link) and put this enchilada sauce in a spoonful or two. Roll warm corn tortillas filled with brown rice, black beans, and greens. Place them on the enchilada sauce, pour more sauce on top, and bake for 20 minutes.

Serve with diced avocado, chopped cilantro, and sliced red onion. And there you go, dinner in under 30 minutes.

most asked questions

Tips & Tricks for a clean home

  • CLEAN AS YOU GO. Do not wait until the end to clean and pick up everything you used. Have a good mop and your surface cleaner on hand; always, I use Bona® Premium Spray Mop for Hard-Surface Floors.
  • HAVE A TRASH BOWL. I always have a bowl beside my cutting board when I start cooking. All the scraps, empty cans, empty jars, etc., go in there. This makes picking up so much faster!
  • BUY THE RIGHT CLEANING PRODUCTS. Buy cleaning products that are safe to use on most or all of your surfaces, products that are ready to use, and eliminate grease and grime.
A jar of homemade enchilada sauce and a spoon next to it.

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A jar of homemade enchilada sauce and a spoon next to it.

Easy homemade enchilada sauce

Alejandra Graf
Super easy to prepare, vegan, healthy and easy enchilada sauce.
3.60 de 5 votos
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Basics
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 3 cups
Calories 120 kcal

Equipment

  • Blender or immersion blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon oil with a neutral taste I use avocado oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
  • cups tomato puree
  • cup water

Instructions
 

  • In a saucepan add the tablespoon of oil and the onion. When the onion is translucent add the garlic and leave for three minutes. Be careful not to let it burn.
  • Add the oregano, cumin, chipotle, and salt. Leave for a minute or until the aroma of the spices is released.
  • Add the tomato puree and water. Mix well and simmer on low for five minutes.
  • Test and adjust seasoning if necessary.
  • Using a food processor or a blender, liquefy until completely smooth.
  • Store in jars in the fridge or freeze.

Notes

This recipe calls for chipotle chile powder, but feel free to use any othe ground chili or chili powder mix that you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 832mgPotassium: 690mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 887IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 3mg
Keyword enchilada sauce, mexican sauces

information

Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe?Tag @piloncilloyvainilla on Instagram and hashtag it #alecooks so we can all see your creations.

Bona® sponsors this post; the recipe, pictures, and opinions are all mine.

Alejandra Graf
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