Adobo Sauce Recipe
This homemade adobo sauce recipe is classic, authentic Mexican cuisine, made with ancho and guajillo peppers and wonderful seasonings, earthy and huge on flavor.
Servings: 16 tablespoons
Calories: 19kcal
Ingredients
- 4 guajillo peppers
- 4 ancho peppers
- 3 cups hot water or enough to cover the dried peppers + ½ cup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 small onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste optional for a milder flavor
- ½ teaspoon Mexican cinnamon or use cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano or use oregano
- ½ teaspoon sugar optional, to taste – see my NOTES on Optional Spices
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Remove the stems from the guajillo and ancho peppers and remove the seeds. You may need to cut into the peppers for this, which is fine.
- Heat a large pan to medium-high heat and dry toast the dried peppers a couple minutes per side. They will become more pliable and slightly puff up. This helps to release the oils for more flavor.
- Place the dried pods in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Soak them for 15 minutes, or until they become very soft and rehydrate. Transfer the softened peppers to a food processor, but reserve the soaking liquid.
- While the peppers are softening, heat olive oil in a medium pan and add the onion. Cook it down for 4-5 minutes to soften.
- Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds to 1 minute, until you it becomes fragrant.
- Add the tomato paste, cinnamon, cumin, oregano, sugar and salt. Cook for 1 minute, stirring.
- Stir in 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the mixture to the food processor along with the softened peppers and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of fresh water, or you can use the dark liquid from soaking the peppers. Process until smooth.
- Adjust with salt and sugar to taste, and with a bit more water until you achieve your desired consistency. Strain if you’d like a thinner sauce, or use as-is.
Video
Notes
Makes about 2 cups.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Calories: 19kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 494IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg