Enchilada And Tamale Sauce Food

MEXICAN RED CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the chiles open and remove stem and seeds: Working on one chile at a time, use a paring knife to cut a slit all the way down one side of a chile. Open up the chile and remove the stem and seeds. Remove as much of the veins as you can. Reserve a few of the seeds or veins for adding later if you want added heat. Note when working with chiles, either wear protective gloves or wash your hands very thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling the chilies. Do not touch or rub your eyes if you have been handling chili peppers.
• Heat the chiles on a skillet: Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Flatten out the dried chiles as well as you can and place on the skillet to heat. Press down on the opened chiles and leave for a few seconds. Turn the chiles over and heat a few seconds more. You do not want to toast or burn the chiles! If they burn, they'll turn bitter. Just heat them enough to draw out more of their flavor.
• Soften the chiles in hot water: Add the chiles to a small saucepan and add enough water so that they are just covered. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes, until the chiles have softened and plumped up. (OR place the chiles in a small saucepan and pour boiling water over them to cover. Let sit for 15 minutes, until softened.)
• Purée with garlic, seasonings, water or poaching liquid: Remove the chiles from the pan, reserve the soaking water, and place the chiles in a blender. Add the garlic, salt, crushed peppercorns, ground cloves, and 1 1/2 cups of the soaking liquid (taste the soaking water first, if it seems bitter, use plain water instead). Purée for 2 minutes, until the sauce is completely smooth. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning. If you want more heat, add in a few of the seeds or veins and purée some more. Add more salt if needed.
• Strain through sieve into a skillet, simmer: Pour the sauce through a sieve into a skillet. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the sauce. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to maintain the simmer, cook for 10 minutes. Skim off the foam. Remove from heat. Use immediately or pour into a glass jar (plastic will get stained) and refrigerate.

TEN MINUTE ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in flour and chili powder, reduce heat to medium, and cook until lightly brown, stirring constantly to prevent burning flour.
• Gradually stir in tomato sauce, water, cumin, garlic powder, and onion salt into the flour and chili powder until smooth, and continue cooking over medium heat approximately 10 minutes, or until thickened slightly. Season to taste with salt.

RED SAUCE FOR TAMALES OR ENCHILADAS ETC...

Steps:

• Seed the chiles, rinse and set aside. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the chilies, pushing them down with a spoon so they are fully submerged.
• Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, boil the onions in water until soft, about 25 minutes. Drain. Or alternatively you can put the onions under the broiler to blacken.
• Remove the soaked chiles from the water, reserving 2 cups of the liquid. In a food processor, blend the chilies, onions and garlic until pureed.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil. Stir the cumin into the hot oil, being careful not to burn it.
• Add the chile mixture and simmer for 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of the stock, 1 cup of the reserved chile liquid and the tomatoes.
• Add just enough additional stock and reserved liquid to make a sauce the consistency of thin gravy.
• Add the 2 T sugar and 1/2 T salt and cook for 10 minutes longer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is the consistency of a thin gravy.
• Taste and add more salt and sugar if needed.
• Set aside to cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days, or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.

ENCHILADA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and saute for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add onion, oregano, chili powder, basil, ground black pepper, salt, cumin, parsley, salsa and tomato sauce.
• Mix together and then stir in the water.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Use in place of canned enchilada sauce.