Red Chile Sauce

Name: Red Chile Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Southwestern
Ingredients: 8 dried red chiles (guajillo or ancho), seeded, deveined; 3 cups chicken broth; 4 garlic cloves, smashed; 1/2 tsp cumin; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp kosher salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper

A foundational Southwestern sauce made from dried red chiles, simmered until silky with garlic and spices. Perfect for enchiladas, tamales, or eggs.

35 minEasyServes 845 cal/serving

SouthwesternSauceStovetopVeganGluten-FreeNut-Free

Ingredients

8 dried red chiles (guajillo or ancho), seeded, deveined
3 cups chicken broth
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Toast 8 seeded, deveined dried red chiles (guajillo or ancho) for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
2

Add 3 cups chicken broth to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until chiles are very soft.
3

Transfer chiles and liquid to a blender. Add 4 smashed garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
4

Blend until completely smooth. For a thinner sauce, add more broth a little at a time.
5

Strain through a fine mesh sieve back into the skillet, pressing gently on solids to extract all sauce.
6

Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Questions

How long does Red Chile Sauce keep?

Refrigerated in a sealed jar, it keeps four to five days. It also freezes flat in a bag for up to three months.

Can I halve or double Red Chile Sauce?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

Sheet Pan Enchiladas Verde main
Farmer's Cheese Dumplings (Vareniki) main
Obatzda with Pretzel starter

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