How to Make Red Chili Sauce for Pork Tamales: A Comprehensive Guide with Authentic Recipes

Red chili sauce is a staple ingredient in many Mexican dishes, including the beloved pork tamales. This flavorful sauce adds a vibrant color and a delightful spicy kick to the tamales, making them a favorite among food enthusiasts. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the art of crafting the perfect red chili sauce for your pork tamales, using two authentic recipes as our culinary compass.

Essential Ingredients

Before embarking on our culinary adventure, let’s gather the essential ingredients you’ll need to create a tantalizing red chili sauce:

• Dried chili peppers (such as Anaheim, New Mexico, California, or pasilla)
• Garlic cloves
• Ground cumin
• Salt
• All-purpose flour
• Olive oil or melted shortening

Two Authentic Recipes

Now, let’s explore two authentic recipes that will guide you in making a delectable red chili sauce for your pork tamales:

Recipe 1: Red Chili Sauce (To Be Used With Traditional Tamales)

• Ingredients:

  • 15 large dried chili peppers
  • 4-5 garlic cloves
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil or 2 teaspoons melted shortening

• Instructions:

  1. Remove the stems and seeds from the chili peppers.
  2. Place the peppers on a baking sheet and roast them in a 350°F oven for 2 to 5 minutes, or until you smell a sweet roasted aroma.
  3. Remove the peppers from the oven and soak them in enough hot water to cover for about 30 minutes, or until cool.
  4. Put the peppers and 2 1/2 cups of the soaking water into a blender (save the remaining soaking water).
  5. Add the garlic, cumin, and salt.
  6. Cover and blend until smooth.
  7. In a 2-quart saucepan, stir the flour into the oil or melted shortening over medium heat until browned.
  8. Carefully stir in the blended chili mixture.
  9. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened. (If the sauce gets too thick, stir in up to 1 cup of the remaining soaking water until you reach the desired thickness.)

Recipe 2: Pork with Red Chili Sauce

• Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 pounds pork loin shoulder or butt