Description
Spicy and slightly sweet, this easy guajillo sauce is a popular and versatile condiment made from dried guajillo chiles. This homemade guajillo sauce recipe adds authentic Mexican flavor to tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, marinades or grilled meats. Naturally gluten-free and vegan too.
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 dried guajillo chiles
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
Instructions
- Soak Guajillo Chilies: Remove the stems and seeds from the guajillo chilies. Soak them in hot water for 15 minutes (reserving 1 to 2 tablespoons of the soaking water for later).
- Sauté Onions & Garlic: Heat up the olive oil in a pan on low heat. Sauté the chopped onion for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add Sugar, Salt & Spices: Add salt, oregano, cumin, and brown sugar. Stir and cook for 1 more minute.
- Combine Ingredients in Blender: In a high-speed blender, combine the soaked chilies (without soaking water), vegetable broth, and the sautéed onions and garlic.
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend until very smooth. If needed, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the soaking water to make it smoother.
- Strain Sauce: Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve for a smooth texture. Cool and serve with tacos or other Mexican dishes.
Notes
Guajillo Chiles: For the best flavor, make sure to use good-quality dried guajillo chiles that are deep red in color, pliable, and free of any cracks. Do NOT use brittle chiles which are faded in color because that means the chiles are very old and lack flavor.
Olive Oil: I used olive oil but, you can also use other types of vegetable oil if you prefer (such as canola oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, etc,)
Onion & Garlic: Fresh onion and garlic will really impart deeper flavors to this homemade guajillo chile sauce, so make sure to add them in. I used yellow onion, but white onions or red onions will work too.
Seasonings: I used dried oregano and ground cumin for flavor. But you can also add in other dried herbs (such as dried parsley, dried thyme, etc).
Sugar: I used light brown sugar, but you can also use cane sugar, dark brown sugar, or coconut sugar if you prefer.
Broth: I used vegetable broth to keep this recipe vegan. However, if you are not vegan, go ahead and use chicken broth for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Soaking Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
