Enchiladas Sauce II (Chile Rojo)
To control the amount of heat, use more mild New Mexico powder than other varieties. To make a hotter variety, mix both hot and mild New Mexico chile powder. This recipe makes for a sweeter result than starting with whole dried peppers and is faster to prepare.
1 Teaspoon Ancho powder
1 Teaspoon Aji Amarillo powder
1 Teaspoon Guajillo powder
1 Teaspoon sweet paprika (or smoked pimenton)
1 Teaspoon of mild or hot New Mexico ground chile powder
2 Cups homemade rich chicken bone stock
2 Cloves minced garlic
5 Tablespoons lard (rendered pork fat) (Manteca rendered from good pork fat)
5 Tablespoons white all-purpose flour
2 Bay leaf
2 Bay leaf
Pinch Mexican oregano(Lippia berlandieri)
1/2 Cup sour cream or more, as needed
Salt
Optional, pinch or two of sugar as required - see text
Optional, 1~2 teaspoon powdered quality beef bouillon (to taste)
Optional, 1~2 teaspoon powdered quality beef bouillon (to taste)
Melt lard, then make a roux by blending the pork fat and flour, and cook it on low until it is a pale brown color. Remove from heat. Whisk in chili powders, garlic and oregano over very low heat, add chicken stock, and garlic. Simmer for 1 hours with a couple of optional bay leaves, adding more chicken stock as needed. Taste the sauce for hotness, and if not spicy enough, add more ground HOT chili powder. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add beef bouillon to taste. Correct salt and add a smidge of sugar and sourcream as required. The amount of sugar should NOT be perceptible and is used to just take any bitter edge off. Salt will also help moderate the biter undertones. The sourcream serves to mellow the sauce. The key is taste, correct the seasonings as a last touch. Remove bay leaves when sauce has finished simmering.


