Name: Easy Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 yellow onion; 2 cloves garlic; 2.5 tablespoons chili powder; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 15 ounces tomato sauce; 0.75 cup water; salt

From the Cook

1/3

Easy Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce

Flavor the Moments Verified

Flavorthemoments.com

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

Visit Blog

Instructions

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and the spices and sauté for 30 seconds.

Add the tomato sauce and water, and stir well to combine.

Bring the sauce to a boil, then remove from heat. There is no need to cook the sauce any further as it will continue cooking with your enchiladas. If you'd like a smoother sauce, process in a food processor until smooth.

Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

0
Review & Earn

Be the first to review this recipe and earn a 20% Bonus

Level up & unlock free Premium by reviewing recipes!

My Notes

Your kitchen notebook is waiting.

Whether it's a recipe tweak or an inspiration burst — jot it down here.

Tips & Tricks (5)

Toast Your Spices First 🔥
Bloom the cumin and chili powder in the olive oil for 30-60 seconds before adding other ingredients to unlock their essential oils and deepen their flavors significantly.
Caramelize the Onion and Garlic 🧅
Sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until golden and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes) to develop a rich, sweet base that elevates the entire sauce complexity.
Simmer, Don't Boil 💧
Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer for 5-7 minutes rather than a rolling boil to allow flavors to meld while preventing the tomato sauce from becoming bitter or overly concentrated.
Taste and Adjust at the End 👅
Always taste your finished sauce and adjust seasoning with salt, cumin, or chili powder individually—this prevents over-salting and allows you to customize the heat level to your preference.
Strain for Silky Smoothness 🥄
For an ultra-refined sauce, press the finished mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any onion chunks and create a velvety texture perfect for coating enchiladas evenly.