Gail's Enchilada Sauce or Gravy is an easy delicious Tex-Mex style sauce to put over enchilada's. Delicious with any filling beef, cheese, chicken, or pork.
The story behind Gail's Homemade Tex-Mex Style Red Enchilada Sauce ( Gravy)
My husband's mother was raised in Texas and was an excellent Tex-Mex cook. When she made enchiladas, always with a combination of mild cheddar and jack cheese, this is the "gravy" she would make to put over them. Generally, when I make enchilada sauce, I make it with dried chilies, but this recipe for Gail's Enchilada Sauce or Gravy is certainly easier and still very tasty.
Chili powder is different from ground chilies
Chili powder is different from using ground chilies. Ground chilies are the pure form of chili, chili powder is a combination of chilies with added spices, usually cumin, oregano, and garlic powder. While you could use a combination of pure chili powders, adding your own spices, pre-made is very convenient when you don't have a lot of time to put it together yourself.
My Tex-Mex mother-in-law used only Gebhardt's "original" Eagle brand chili powder. Gebhardt, since 1896. Must be doing something right.
Homemade Tex-Mex Style Red Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons oil I use grapeseed
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 tablespoons chili powder or to desired taste (Gail used Gebhardt)
- ½ teaspoon cumin or to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano or to taste (crush between your fingers)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder or to taste
- 1 cup water or more as needed
- 1 cup beef broth or more as needed
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a sauté pan, add the flour and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the flour is just beginning to brown. Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic, onion, and regular salt, stir well. Add the water and beef stock, stir well; bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer, stirring and adding more water and beef broth (in equal portions) until you have the sauce consistency you desire. Simmer for 20 minutes; taste and adjust seasonings.
larry geigle says
If the Gebhardt already has the cumin, oregano, and garlic in it, do I still need to add it separately? Thanks.
LindySez says
Hi Larry, Yes...the amounts of those ingredients is small, while it does add some flavor it's not enough...so you do have to supplement it. Cheers!