Basic Red Sauce -

Basic Red Sauce

Ingredients

Makes about 2 ½ cups sauce

8 ancho chillies
3 ½ cups warm water
½ cup onion, chopped
2 garlic; cloves, chopped
¼ cup vegetable oil
8oz tomato sauce
1 tablespoon oregano leaves, dried
1 tablespoon cumin seed
1 teaspoon salt

Method

Cover chillies with warm water. Let stand until softened, about 30 minutes; drain. Strain liquid; reserve. Remove stems, seeds and membranes from chillies. Cook and stir onion and garlic in oil in a 2-quart saucepan until onion is tender. Stir in chillies, 2 cups of the reserved liquid and the remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling, reduce heat.

Simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes; cool. Pour into a food processor work bowl fitted with steel blade or into a blender container; cover and process until smooth. Cover and refrigerate up to 10 days.  

Related food category:

• Pastes, Sauces and Fillings