Red Chili Sauce to Be Used with Traditional Tamales

Elevate your tamale-making experience with this authentic Red Chili Sauce, crafted to infuse your traditional tamales with rich, bold flavor. This smoky and slightly spicy sauce is made from a vibrant blend of dried guajillo, ancho, and optional arbol chilies for an extra kick. Enhanced with aromatic garlic, onion, cumin, and oregano, its flavors are perfectly balanced with a touch of chicken or vegetable stock. The sauce is simmered and refined for a silky texture, creating the perfect complement to the hearty masa and fillings of tamales. Whether you're preparing for a festive celebration or a comforting homemade meal, this red chili sauce brings an unmistakable depth that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 6 whole dried guajillo chilies
• 4 whole dried ancho chilies
• 2 whole dried arbol chilies (optional for heat)
• 4 cups water
• 4 whole garlic cloves
• 1 medium white onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

Directions

Step 1

1. Remove the stems and seeds from the guajillo, ancho, and arbol chilies. Rinse them under cold water to remove any dust.

Step 2

2. In a medium saucepan, add the cleaned chilies and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to simmer. Cover and let the chilies soften for 10-15 minutes.

Step 3

3. Once softened, remove the chilies from the heat but reserve 1 cup of the soaking liquid for blending.

Step 4

4. In a blender, combine the softened chilies, garlic cloves, chopped onion, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and 1 cup of the reserved soaking liquid. Blend until the mixture is smooth. If needed, add more liquid to achieve the desired consistency.

Step 5

5. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Carefully pour in the blended chili mixture (it may splatter). Stir well and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.

Step 6

6. Gradually stir in the chicken or vegetable stock to thin the sauce to your desired consistency. Simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 7

7. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt if necessary.

Step 8

8. Remove the sauce from the heat and strain it through a fine-mesh sieve if a smoother texture is desired.

Step 9

9. Let the sauce cool slightly before using it as a flavorful accompaniment for traditional tamales.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1210.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	551.7

Total Fat 35.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 16.8g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 4828.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 65.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 29.4g	0%
Total Sugars 9.2g
Protein 13.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 151.1mg	0%
Iron 7.0mg	0%
Potassium 2173.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 50.4%

Protein: 8.5%

Carbs: 41.1%