We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Main Ingredients in Enchilada Sauce?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 13,574
Share

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.

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.

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.

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.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By wesley91 — On Sep 19, 2010

@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.

By CarrotIsland — On Sep 19, 2010

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.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-main-ingredients-in-enchilada-sauce.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.