Guajillo Chile Sauce Recipe

Are you a Mexican cuisine lover? Do you love to infuse your regular meals with authentic Mexican flavors? The guajillo chile sauce recipe is a must-try sauce for you.

Guajillo pepper sauce is known for its attractive red color, mild heat, and smoky and bold flavors. Besides, this is a versatile sauce. You can use this sauce to prepare a Mexican fusion at home.

This sauce will present an easy recipe for homemade Guajillo sauce. Our experts have come up with a 7-step simple process for a homemade Guajillo chile sauce recipe. Don’t skip any part to understand the whole recipe and the uses of this bold sauce.

Red Guajillo Chile Sauce Ingredients

Guajillo pepper is the main ingredient for this recipe. All other ingredients are common and easily available. Here is the ingredient list:

1. Dried Guajillo Chiles – 6 pieces
2. Hot Water – 2 Cup (for rehydrating chiles)
3.  Roughly Chopped Garlic – 3 cloves
4. Roughly Chopped Onion – ½ medium size
5. Olive Oil – 1 tablespoon 
6. Ground Cumin – ½ teaspoon 
7. Dried Oregano – ½ teaspoon (preferably Mexican oregano)
8. Apple Cider Vinegar – 1 tablespoon (Alternatively, white vinegar)
9. Salt – ½ teaspoon

How to Make Guajillo Sauce at Home: Easy 7 Steps

Guajillo chile sauce is one of the simplest traditional Mexican sauces. You need to follow our steps to prepare the authentic Mexican Guajillo pepper blend.

Step 1: Prepare the Chiles

After collecting all the required ingredients, the recipe starts with preparing the chiles.

• Remove the stems and seeds from the peppers.
• Take a dry skillet and heat it over medium heat.
• Toast the Guajillo chiles for 30 seconds to a minute.

Tip: Don’t use high flame, otherwise the chiles may get burned. Just toast for 30 seconds to get a smoky flavor. 

Step 2: Rehydrate the Chiles

After toasting, you have to rehydrate the chiles.

• Put the toasted chiles into a large bowl.
• Pour hot water into the bowl to immerse the chiles perfectly.
• Let the chiles soak for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• After proper rehydrating, the Guajillo chiles will become soft.
• Drain the water from the chiles.

Tip: Don’t throw out the drained water. You can use this water to adjust the consistency of the sauce.    

Step 3: Sauté the Chopped Onion and Garlic

The Guajillo chiles are ready. Now, it’s time to prepare the aromatics.

• Heat some olive oil in the skillet over medium heat.
• Add chopped onion and sauté for 2 to 5 minutes until soft.
• Then, add chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
• Then, pour the sautéed aromatics into a small bowl.
• Let them cool at room temperature. 

Step 4: Blend all the ingredients

All the ingredients are prepared to make the dried chili sauce. You need to blend them together.

• Take a blender or food processor.
• Put the rehydrated chile guajillo, apple cider vinegar, sautéed onion, and garlic into the blender jar.
• Blend for a minute.
• The sauce base is ready.
• Then, add the ground cumin, oregano, and salt to the sauce base.
• Again, blend for 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 5: Adjust the Consistency

The red Gyajilli chile sauce paste is ready. It’s time to add some water to adjust the consistency of the sauce.

• Add 2 tablespoons of water that you reserved while rehydrating the chiles.
• Blend for a minute.
• Repeat this step until you get your desired consistency.

Tip: If you want to simmer the sauce, then you have to make the consistency very thin. After simmering, the consistency will be perfect. 

Step 6: Simmer the Sauce (Optional)

If you are making the sauce to use immediately after the preparation, then simmering is an optional step. However, simmering is a mandatory step if you want to store this Guajillo sauce for tacos.

• Pour the sauce into the skillet from the blender jar.
• Simmer the sauce for about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Taste the sauce.
• You can adjust the taste if required by adding salt, sugar, or oregano.

Note: You can add some water or vinegar to get the desired consistency. 

Step 7: Serve or Store

The authentic Mexican guajillo salsa is ready to serve.

• Pour the sauce in a bowl and enjoy with your favorite meal.
• Besides, you can store the sauce.
• Cool the sauce completely at room temperature.
• Then, pour the sauce into a clean, dry, and airtight glass container.
• Close the lid and store in the refrigerator.

3 Best Uses of Red Guajillo Chili Sauce

• As a base for enchiladas, tacos, and pozole
• Flavor enhancer for soups, chili, or beans
• Sauce for grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and rice bowls.

Conclusion

Mexican cuisine is incomplete without Guajillo chile sauce. If you like Mexican cuisine and want to prepare authentic Mexican food at home. This article will be very beneficial for you.

You can make a traditional Guajillo chile sauce recipe with a few common ingredients and steps with our recipe. We hope that after reading this article, you can make the perfect flavor booster for different dishes. Stay connected with us for more useful recipes.

FAQs

What Does Guajillo Chile Taste Like?

Guajillo chile tastes slightly sweet, tangy, with mild to moderate heat. This chili has a fruity flavor with a hint of smokiness. Additionally, an earthy aromatic flavor overwhelms the heat. Overall, the flavor profile makes the Guajillo ideal for bold and smoky sauces. 

Can You Freeze Guajillo Chile Sauce?

Yes, you can freeze Guajillo chile sauce for long-term storage. To freeze the sauce, do the following:

• Let the sauce cool completely at room temperature.
• Store the sauce in airtight freezer bags.
• Label and date the bags.
• Then store the bags in a freezer where the temperature is below 0°C.
• That’s how you can store the sauce for up to 3 months.

Tip: During storing the sauce in a freezer bag, you can store it in portioned sizes like ice cube trays for small servings. It will assist in easy use when needed. 

Is Guajillo Sauce Spicy or Mild?

Guajillo chile sauce is not very spicy. It is mildly to moderately spicy. On the Scoville scale, these chiles range from 2500 to 5000 SHU. However, the Guajillo chile is less spicy than the jalapenos.