Authentic Dried Chile Pepito Enchilada Sauce Food

AUTHENTIC DRIED CHILE-PEPITO ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil, and set aside. Rinse and pat the ancho chiles dry, then tear out the stems and cores, and tear open the chiles. Scrape out seeds and veins, leaving the flesh intact. Tear the chiles into 1- to 2-inch pieces.
• Place the ancho pieces, onion, and garlic into a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, and toast, stirring constantly, until the chiles are fragrant and show browned spots, about 5 minutes. In a small separate skillet over medium heat, toast the ground cumin just until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Watch carefully, the cumin will burn easily. Pour the toasted cumin into the skillet with the ancho mixture; pour in the hot water.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the ancho peppers are rehydrated and moist and the mixture is reduced, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt, agave syrup, and lemon juice. Remove from heat and let cool for about 15 minutes.
• Pour the ancho mixture into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the mixture moving before leaving it on to puree. Stop the blender after about 30 seconds, and add the chile de arbol peppers, pumpkin seeds, oregano, and roma tomatoes. Puree in batches if needed until smooth and thickened.
• Return the blended sauce to the cast-iron skillet, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, for about 15 more minutes to blend flavors.

AUTHENTIC ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Start with that all important step: Roasting! Heat a heavy non-stick skillet (I like to use cast iron) over medium-high heat. Don't add any oil. Lay the dried peppers on the skillet and toast them for a minute or two on each, just until they become very fragrant. It's better to under-toast than to over-toast them as they will become very bitter if scorched. Remove and set aside. Next place the onion, garlic and tomatoes on the skillet and toast until lightly browned.
• Remove the stems from the peppers (using gloves if you're using hot peppers), slice the peppers open and remove and discard all of the seeds and the membranes (contrary to popular belief, it's the membranes not the seeds that are hot, the seeds are bitter). Place the peppers in a bowl.Pour the boiling water over the peppers, cover the bowl and let them sit for 20-30 minutes until soft.
• Place the peppers and their liquid along with the onion, tomato, garlic and all remaining ingredients (except for the chocolate if using) in a blender and blend until completely smooth.Note: At this point determine for yourself whether your sauce needs to be strained. I use a Vitamix blender which does an excellent job of blending the sauce to a very smooth puree, so I don't bother straining it.
• Time to cook the sauce: Heat a tablespoon or so of oil to a pot then add red sauce. Simmer it uncovered for about 30 minutes. Add a little more water if you prefer it thinner. The sauce should be the thickness of heavy cream.Optional: For an added flavor touch, add a small piece of semi-sweet chocolate at the end and stir until melted.If the sauce is very bitter, add a touch of brown sugar. SEE NOTE.
• Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze it for several months. I like to freeze about a cup of it per freezer bag so I can conveniently grab a bag as needed.Makes approx. 5-6 cups.

HOMEMADE RED ENCHILADA SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Toast the chiles in a hot pan until fragrant. (about 10 to 15 seconds per side)
• Allow chiles to cool and then remove stems, seeds, and veins.
• Char the onion, tomatoes, and garlic in a hot pan.
• Place the chiles, onion, tomatoes, garlic oregano and marjoram in a pot with just enough water until the ingredients are almost covered.
• Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low.
• Simmer for 15 minutes to reconstitute the chiles and soften the veggies.
• Blend the chiles, onion, tomatoes, garlic, oregano marjoram, and the soaking water until smooth. It usually takes about a minute.
• Add water little by little if necessary to blend. You may have to blend in two batches
• Strain the mixture.
• Add two tablespoons of cooking oil to a hot pan add the strained sauce to fry it.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
• Add salt to taste.
• Allow the sauce to sit for at least 2 hours so that the flavors meld.
• Warm the sauce before serving.

RED CHILE OR ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove stems and seeds from dried chiles, and break chiles into smaller pieces.
• Place chiles in a blender cup with garlic, and cover with boiling water. Let stand for 30 minutes to an hour.
• In the mean time in a heavy sauce pan use the lard and flour to make a roux, and let cook for a couple of minutes to remove any raw taste.
• When the chiles have rehydrated, blend on "liquify' until smooth.
• Add to sauce pan with oregano,cumin,and salt. Simmer for 15 minutes.
• If you can make this a few hours, or a day, ahead it is even better.

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH RED SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook chicken in a large pot over medium heat with water. Cook for about 25 minutes.
• Reserve some of the water the chicken was cooked in, about 2 cups of broth.
• Shred chicken with two forks.
• If using the onion (highly recommend) add 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil to a skillet over medium high heat and saute for 2 minutes. Stir onions and now add the minced garlic to pan. Cook garlic for about 30 seconds over medium heat.
• Add shredded chicken and broth of chicken.
• Sprinkle cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper over chicken and stir mixture together. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken broth reduces a bit. You want to make sure chicken stays moist. Set aside.
• Remove stems off of peppers. To remove seeds, flip peppers over to allow seeds to fall out.
• Place in a saucepan with water to cover and heat on medium heat. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until peppers are soft.
• Place peppers in a chopper or blender with the other 3 garlic cloves, oregano and 2 cups of water. Blend until smooth ( sauce will still have texture because of pepper skin).
• Strain sauce into a bowl using a strainer so that the skin (and whatever seeds may still remain) is left behind. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Using a pair of tongs, coat tortillas one at a time lightly with sauce or use a cooking brush and coat tortillas on each side lightly.
• In a non-stick skillet fry tortillas on each side for a few seconds. Add a little cooking spray if pan starts to get too sticky. Do not overcook or tortillas will fall apart.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Add about a 1/3 cup of chicken down the middle of each tortilla, followed by monterey cheese.
• Roll tortillas. Assemble and place each tortilla seam side down in a greased baking dish or casserole.
• Add additional sauce on top of tortillas. Cover with additional monterey cheese
• Cover casserole with aluminum and place in oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove foil and cook for another few minutes if you like to brown the cheese on top. This step is entirely up to you.
• Once done, let the casserole rest for a few minutes and then add crumbled cheese, red onion (if using) and sprinkle chopped cilantro.
• Serve 1 to 2 enchiladas per person. Enjoy!

AUTHENTIC DRIED CHILE-PEPITO ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil, and set aside. Rinse and pat the ancho chiles dry, then tear out the stems and cores, and tear open the chiles. Scrape out seeds and veins, leaving the flesh intact. Tear the chiles into 1- to 2-inch pieces.
• Place the ancho pieces, onion, and garlic into a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, and toast, stirring constantly, until the chiles are fragrant and show browned spots, about 5 minutes. In a small separate skillet over medium heat, toast the ground cumin just until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Watch carefully, the cumin will burn easily. Pour the toasted cumin into the skillet with the ancho mixture; pour in the hot water.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the ancho peppers are rehydrated and moist and the mixture is reduced, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt, agave syrup, and lemon juice. Remove from heat and let cool for about 15 minutes.
• Pour the ancho mixture into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the mixture moving before leaving it on to puree. Stop the blender after about 30 seconds, and add the chile de arbol peppers, pumpkin seeds, oregano, and roma tomatoes. Puree in batches if needed until smooth and thickened.
• Return the blended sauce to the cast-iron skillet, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, for about 15 more minutes to blend flavors.