I’m not going to lie, I had never tried making enchilada sauce at home until about a year ago. I was a serious Old El Paso girl. That red sauce in the yellow can seemed perfect always and I was happy to buy it. However, then I tried making it at home, and I was BLOWN away. Not only because there are so many varieties you can make, but because it’s so much healthier and it tastes SO much better…like so much better. I found a recipe for some Chipotle Enchilada sauce, but it had chicken stock in it which meant it wasn’t technically vegetarian. Sometimes I let things like this slide (especially in restaurants), but I knew it would be an easy switch to make it veggie friendly. So, if you aren’t a vegetarian, go ahead and make this with chicken stock and it will be the same delicious sauce.
The chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add so much flavor to this sauce. It is so good. You can find those pepper in adobo sauce in the international aisle, next to the Mexican food stuff. This is what you are looking for (whatever brand is fine):
Whatever peppers you don’t end up using, you can put in a ziplock and pop into the freezer for next time. These are so delicious.
This sauce is also really quick to make. Literally it takes 10 minutes max. I usually double he recipe and save half for another time. I store it in either zipper freezer bags or plastic freezer containers and then defrost when I need it. Lately I have been using it on my ‘Taco Bell’ Mexican Pizzas and it adds a nice pop of flavor. This sauce is also a lot lower in sodium than the canned sauce, which is nice for your health as well! Use it on your enchiladas, Skillet Enchilada Rice, tacos, taco bell pizzas, nachos (I love drizzling enchilada sauce on top of nachos), or whatever you want. It is good, you are going to love it…trust me.
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 TBS chipotle chilis in adobo sauce chopped (try 1 TBS is you don't like a lot of spice)
- 1-1/2 cups tomato sauce no salt added
- 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth/stock if you aren't a vegetarian, go ahead and use chicken stock
- dash of salt
- dash of pepper
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1. In a medium saucepan, spray oil spray and saute garlic. Add chipotle chiles, chipotle chili powder, cumin, veggie broth, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
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2. Set aside until ready to use.
Easily double this recipe and freeze half for later use!
Recipe adapted from Skinny Taste
Here are some more recipes you can use this delicious sauce on:
Cheesy Veggie Skillet Enchilada Rice
Thanks for visiting!
– Allyson
Heather K says
I am the same way about letting stuff slide at restaurants and other people’s houses. I won’t eat meat, but it’s like, chicken broth or oyster sauce used? Meh. I also eat refried beans a lot from Mexican places just hoping they use vegetable oil instead of lard, lol.
This sauce looks great! I usually make my own sauce because most of them have gluten, so I’m happy to add this chipotle recipe to my enchilada sauce collection!
Andreya says
Made this last night, and used it to top enchiladas with spinach and this filling: http://www.crunchyrock.com/2011/05/lentil-brown-rice-tacos.html. So good!
Allyson says
Wow! That filling looks SO good! Thanks for sharing!!!
Mama J says
This enchilada sauce recipe looks delicious! I went to buy a can once and was pretty horrified at all the “extra” ingredients they add to it. Yuck! I went ahead and pinned this on Pinterest to save the recipe for later. 🙂
Allyson says
Isn’t it shocking all the extra ‘stuff’ that gets added to EVERYTHING these days? This recipe is so tasty, you will never use a can again! Thanks for stopping by!
Doris says
Hey again Allyson!
Now this is a definite keeper recipe—I make a lot of Mexican and Tex Mex dishes (how did this happen with an Italian girl, I keep asking myself) and how simple and easy this is! On my list to get the adobe peppers today and I will use the chicken stock (I actually make my own from time to time but I do use the canned stuff). I am going to do your rice recipe as well for Saturday’s dinner. Thanks a bunch!
Allyson says
Doris – Chicken stock is a great alternative, especially homemade, yum! You will love this recipe, it is SO good. Let me know how you like the rice!!!