Guajillo Chile Sauce Recipes

ENCHILADA CASSEROLE WITH RED GUAJILLO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet, sprinkling in pepper and taco seasoning, until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion, bell peppers, and carrots; saute for 5 minutes.
• Pour guajillo sauce into a large measuring cup and stir in sugar. Pour sauce over the beef mixture; stir in black beans.
• Place 3 tortillas on the bottom of a casserole dish. Add half the meat mixture on top. Sprinkle 1/2 of the shredded cheese on top. Repeat the layers, ending with cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 25 minutes.

GUAJILLO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Start 6-8 cups of water boiling.
• Put chilies in boiling water, turn heat to a slow simmer. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Transfer chiles to a blender and discard water. Add garlic, cumin, oregano, Adobo Seco and chicken stock to blender with chilies and puree 45-60 seconds until smooth.
• Strain chili mixture into a large bowl. Use immediately or freeze for later.
• Makes 2 cups.

GUAJILLO CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Set a heavy ungreased skillet or griddle over medium heat, lay the unpeeled garlic on the hot surface and let it roast to a sweet mellowness, turning occasionally until soft when pressed, a few small spots will blacken, about 15 minutes. Cool, slip off skins and roughly chop.
• While the garlic is roasting break the stems off chilies, tear chilies open and remove seeds, for the mildest sauce remove all stringy light colored veins. Finish and remove garlic if you haven't done so. Toast the chilies a few at a time on your medium-hot skillet. Open them flat, lay them on the hot surface skin side up and press flat with a metal spatula (if the temperature is right you will hear a faint crackle), then flip them and do the same (If you press them just long enough they will have changed to a mottled tan underneath, a wisp of smoke is OK but any more than that then there burnt). Transfer chilies to a bowl and cover with hot water and let rehydrate for 30 minutes, pour off all water and discard.
• In a food processor or blender add chilies, garlic, oregano, pepper and cumin, add 2/3 cup of the broth and process to a smooth puree, scraping and stirring every few seconds (In a blender you may need to add a little more broth until everything is moving). With a rubber spatula, work the puree through a medium mesh strainer into a bowl, discard skins and seeds left in the strainer.
• Heat oil in a medium-sized pot (4 quart) over medium heat, when hot enough to make a drop of the puree sizzle sharply add the puree all at once. Cook stirring constantly, as the puree sears, reduces and darkens to an attractive earthy brick red paste, usually about 7 minutes, taste it: You'll know it is done when it has lost that harsh raw-chili edge.
• Stir in remaining 3 cups of broth, partially cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes. If the sauce has thickened past the consistency of a light cream soup, add more broth. Taste and season with salt and sugar - Salt to brighten and focus the flavors, sugar to smooth any rough or bitter chili edges.
• Covered and refrigerated the sauce will last about a week. If you freeze it you will need to re-boil it to bring back the lovely texture.
• Other chilies you can use - An equal amount of New Mexico chillies can replace the quajillo, the sauce will not be as full flavored; a chipotle or two adds complexity.

GUAJILLO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add chiles and toast on all sides until softened and fragrant. Remove seeds and stems, place in a large bowl, and cover with 1 cup hot water. Soak until soft, about 20 minutes. Drain chiles and let cool. Place chiles in the jar of a blender with 1 cup water and blend until pureed. Season with salt.

GUAJILLO CHILE LIME SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate when not using.

PORK BRAISED IN GUAJILLO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the pork in a heavy Dutch oven large enough to fit pork comfortably.
• Pour in enough cold water to cover the meat by about 2 inches.
• Add 2 tablespoons salt, bay leaf and bring to a boil.
• Boil for one hour, skimming foam off surface as necessary.
• Cut the stems off the guajillo chiles. Tap out the seeds.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
• Add half the chiles and toast them in the skillet, turning with tongs, until they crisp up a bit and change color, about 4 minutes.
• Lift out chiles and repeat with remaining chiles.
• Pour enough boiling water over the toasted chiles to cover them. Soak until completely softened, about 20 minutes. Drain well.
• Wipe out the skillet with paper towels, put the onion and tomatoes cut sides down in the skillet. Cook, turning the veggies as often as necessary, until tomatoes are blackened on all sides and the onions are blackened on both flat sides.
• After the pork cooks one hour, ladle off 2 cups of the cooking liquid and pour into blender. Add onions and puree until smooth. Add chiles and tomatoes and blend until smooth.
• Ladle off another 2 cups of the cooking liquid and set aside. Drain pork, discard remaining liquid, wipe out the pot.
• Set the pot over medium-low heat and add the oil or lard. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, 3-4 minutes.
• Pour the chili sauce into the pot slowly, stir well.
• Return the pork to a simmer, cover the pot and cook until tender, about 1 hour. While it cooks, there should be enough sauce to moisten the pork. If not, add reserved pork cooking liquid as needed.
• Serve hot over white rice or with flour tortillas.