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What are the Main Ingredients in Enchilada Sauce?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

The main ingredients in enchilada sauce are chiles, tomatoes or tomatillos, seasonings, and meat such as pork or beef. Pinto beans, black beans, or kidney beans can be substituted for the meat to make vegetarian enchilada sauce. "Enchilar" is the Spanish verb meaning "to add chiles" and enchiladas are corn tortillas covered with enchilada sauce. The tortillas are usually seared first to add a great smoky flavor to the dish.

Red enchilada sauce uses red chiles and red tomatoes, while green enchilada sauce uses green chiles and tomatillos, which are green. Tomatillo means "husk tomato" and the tomatillo is relatively small in size compared to most red tomatoes. The tomatillo is a staple in Mexican ethnic food and is especially popular in Guatemalan dishes. Tomatillos help to tone down the hot chile flavor of enchilada sauce.

Ground cumin.
Ground cumin.

Wilbur Scoville, a German scientist, invented a system of rating the heat in all types of peppers. Scoville units are not totally accurate as they are based on human tasting results which can be considered very subjective. However, Scoville comparisons give an excellent way of understanding the different degrees of spiciness between various chile peppers. The Scoville tests blended chiles with a neutral substance added in gradually increasing amounts until the tester could no longer taste the hot chiles.

A jalapeno pepper, which could be used in enchilada sauce.
A jalapeno pepper, which could be used in enchilada sauce.

The ancho, the guajillo, and the New Mexico chiles are just three of the common types of chiles used in enchilada sauce. While growing and other conditions affect the spiciness of chiles, the ancho and the New Mexico have about 1,000 Scoville units of heat each and the guajillo has about 5,000 Scoville units. The habenero chile is considered the hottest and can have a Scoville rating of 300,000 to 500,000 units. Habenero peppers range in color from green to orange.

Cinnamon is often used to season enchilada sauce.
Cinnamon is often used to season enchilada sauce.

Seasonings used in enchilada sauce vary, but cumin, garlic powder, cloves, and cinnamon could be used. Some Mexican cooks say adding Mexican cocoa powder is the secret to the best tasting enchilada sauce. Dried chili powder or canned chiles can be used instead of fresh chile peppers. Dried chiles also work, but need to be soaked in hot water before adding to the enchilada sauce.

Discussion Comments

wesley91

@carrotisland: There is no universal recipe for enchilada sauce. People have added or taken away ingredients to enhance whatever they are serving the sauce with. A traditional enchilada sauce will go with just about anything and either type of tortilla. This is the basic recipe that I use.

10 dried Mexican chilies, 1 clove garlic, ¼ cup vegetable oil, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. dried oregano, ¼ tsp. ground cumin seeds, and ¼ cup tomato puree.

Toast the chilies in the oven for about 5 minutes. Shake out all of the seeds, Cover with 5 cups of water and soak until soft. Put the chilies and water in a blender with garlic, salt, oil, oregano, and cumin. Mix until smooth. Pour into a pan and add tomato puree. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

CarrotIsland

Is there a universal mexican enchilada sauce recipe? I've seen so many different kinds of recipes and none of them seem to be the same.

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    • Ground cumin.
      By: marylooo
      Ground cumin.
    • A jalapeno pepper, which could be used in enchilada sauce.
      By: epantha
      A jalapeno pepper, which could be used in enchilada sauce.
    • Cinnamon is often used to season enchilada sauce.
      By: Natika
      Cinnamon is often used to season enchilada sauce.
    • Garlic powder can be used in an enchilida sauce.
      By: Comugnero Silvana
      Garlic powder can be used in an enchilida sauce.
    • Tomatillos are used in green enchilada sauce.
      By: greenfire
      Tomatillos are used in green enchilada sauce.
    • A plate of enchiladas topped with a green sauce.
      By: foodcolors
      A plate of enchiladas topped with a green sauce.