Easy Enchilada Sauce~ Spices in the Cupboard (Street-Style Enchiladas)

An easy enchilada sauce that is ready for your favorite enchilada recipes. Like these street style enchiladas that are a variation to a traditional rolled plate of enchiladas. Often sold in puestos from street vendors in the mercados or road stands in various parts of Mexico. The stand out flavors come from the flavorful enchilada sauces which are typical prepared using dried chile peppers. I found myself with only a few dried peppers, so decided to make good use of the spices in my pantry. For this version in today’s blog post, I gathered my best spices out of the  cupboard and prepared a Tex Mex version of enchilada sauce. I often explain to friends that my family’s version of enchiladas was all about the garnishes. Garnished with fresh ingredients, such as crisp lettuce, tomatoes, salsa and just a sprinkle of crumbled queso fresco or cotija. At the end of the blog post you will find a recipe for Enchilada Casserole. Great for a big crowd or large family. If you would like a more authentic recipe for enchilada sauce, go to the end of the blog post. #thewholeenchilada #foodiforlife

 Whether you enjoy your enchiladas folded over, rolls or layered in a casserole, this easy Tex Mex-style enchilada sauce comes together quickly for any night of the week! The enchiladas below are filled with beef picadillo and black beans.

Easy Enchilada Sauce

An easy enchilada that's not lacking in flavor at all! What spices are in you cupboard?

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Course: Salsa/Sauces

Cuisine: Tex Mex

Servings: 4 Servings

Ingredients

Ingredients

For the Sauce

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons chile ancho powder dark, mild
• 2 tablespoons red chile powder bright red, mild, Gebhardt brand
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon granulated onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano crushed
• 1/2 tablespoon dry onion flakes optional
• 4 cups  chicken stock or broth In a pinch I will use chicken soup base to make a broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Red pepper flakes to taste optional

You will also need

• 12 corn tortillas
• grapeseed or olive oil
• 3 cups cooked finely shredded chicken, beef or pork
• Lettuce or cabbage finely shredded
• Tomato slices thin sliced onion, radishes
• 1 avocado sliced
• Queso fresco  or cotija crumbled
• Mexican crema
• Salsa or hot sauce of your choice
• Cilantro chopped
• Lime wedges

Instructions

Directions

• In a large skillet, heat the 4 tablespoons of olive oil to medium heat for a few minutes. Whisk in the flour until smooth and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.
• Add in all of the remaining ingredients for the sauce in the order listed, making sure you whisk now and then. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and taste for salt. Cook at a simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until it thickens. Turn to low heat.
• Transfer the shredded meat to a medium pan and mix in 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce, just enought to moisten the meat. Cover and keep warm on low.
• In a separate skillet, preheat 1/4 cup of oil to medium heat for a few minutes. One at a time, dip a corn tortilla into the enchilada sauce, then fry it in the oil for 30 seconds per side. Transfer to baking pan, fill with a couple tablespoons of meat and fold over like a taco. Continue dipping and cooking tortillas until all done. Serve right away or keep warm in a low temperature oven. Ladle any extra sauce over enchiladas right before serving. Garnish with your favorite toppings listed. Yields 4 servings.

Notes

Prepare the sauce a couple of days ahead of time for even more flavor! To make this sauce gluten free, simple substitute the flour for some masa harina corn flour. Blend 1/4 cup of masa harina with 1/2 cup of water. Whisk into simmering sauce and cook for 20 minutes. 

Tried this recipe?Mention @pinaenlacocina or tag #pinaenlacocina!

The enchiladas pictured are the same ones from above with picadillo and black beans.

The Street-Style Enchiladas pictured above are filled with crumbled queso fresco, sauteed zucchini, bell peppers, onion and serrano. often times, this style of enchilada is folded like a taco instead of rolled. Topped with lettuce, onion, sliced chiles, cotija, sour cream, radishes and avocado.

The enchiladas above are the same, minus all the cheese and sour cream, lol! My husband’s plate. I will take his portion of cheese anyday! And below, one side with no cheese again, lol!

A silky and easy enchilada sauce using spices in your pantry.

Enchilada Casserole for a Crowd

When cooking for a large family gathering, I like to prepare a big pan of layered enchiladas.

Layered Enchilada Casserole. Click link to see Mom’s Picadillo(Beef) Recipe!

https://pinaenlacocina.com/moms-picadillo-con-papaground-beef-in-fresh-tomato-sauce-with-potatoes/

Layered Enchilada Casserole

You will need

A double batch of Easy Enchilada Sauce, see recipe above

4 cups cooked and seasoned ground beef(Picadillo)

2 cup diced, fried potatoes

3 to 4 cups shredded jack, colby jack or chihuahua cheese

18 corn tortillas

Smoked Paprika and Mexican Oregano

Sour Cream, garnish

In a deep dish lasagna pan, cover the bottom with enchilada sauce. Layer 6 corn tortillas to cover the bottom. Add 1/3 of beef and 1/3 of potatoes. Cover with sauce and 1 cup of cheese over top. Repeat 2 more layers, ending with sauce and cheese on top. Sprinkle with smoked paprika and crushed mexican oregano. Bake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 40 minutes. Under the broiler the last few minutes to brown the cheese. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Yields up to 10 servings.