Recipes

Red Chile Sauce

  • Serves

    makes About 2 1/2 Cups

LAURIE SMITH

This spicy sauce is a staple of authentic "border food" cuisine, and is an essential accompaniment to such dishes as Stacked Cheese Enchiladas and Chiles Rellenos.

Ingredients

  • 20 dried New Mexico red chiles
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 1 small yellow onion, peeled and quartered
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • Salt
  • 1 tsp. sugar (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

Wash chiles and remove stems, seeds, and veins (see Handling Chiles). Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add chiles, cover, and remove from heat. Soak until soft, about 1 hour, then drain, reserving soaking water.

Step 2

Place chiles, garlic, onions, and 2 cups soaking water in a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth. Thin with more soaking water if sauce is too thick.

Step 3

Strain sauce into a large saucepan. Add cumin, season to taste with salt, and simmer, uncovered, over low heat for 10 minutes. If sauce tastes bitter, add sugar.