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–+ servings
Hand Dipping Totopo in Guajillo Sauce

20-Minute Guajillo Sauce

Justine Drosdovech
This rich, vibrant, and smoky guajillo sauce is for all the salsa lovers out there! It features the unique flavors of red guajillo peppers, garlic, onion, and cumin.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer, Dip, Sauce
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Mexican, Vegan
Servings 20 tablespoons
Calories 15 kcal

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Saucepan
  • Blender

Ingredients
 

US Customary - Metric
  • 12 guajillo chiles
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small white onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin optional

Instructions
 

  • Remove the stems, seeds, and veins of the guajillo chiles. In a cast-iron skillet over medium, dry toast them for ~30-60 seconds per side, or until fragrant.
  • Add the guajillos to a pot of water. Bring it to a boil, then turn the heat off, cover the pot, and let the chiles rehydrate for 10-15 minutes until softened.
  • Heat olive oil in the same cast-iron skillet over medium. Add in diced onions and sauté for 3 minutes, or until translucent. Add in minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Drain the guajillo chiles (saving the water) and transfer them to a blender along with the onion mixture. Add sea salt and cumin and mix on high until smooth, adding soaking water or vegetable broth as needed until it blends.
  • Add a little more olive oil to a pot heated over medium, and strain the sauce in. Season for 5-10 minutes, or until the color deepens. Taste and adjust salt to your liking. Serve immediately, or let it chill in your fridge for a few hours. Happy eating!

Video

Notes

  • Remove the seeds: Chile seeds can sometimes have a bitter flavor, so it’s best to remove as many as possible at the start of the recipe.
  • Prep the peppers: Make sure to toast and properly hydrate the peppers to fully release their flavors and make blending easier.
  • Use the right blender: A high-speed blender will give you the smoothest sauce. Use a Vitamix or Blendtec for the best results.
  • Strain it: If you want a super smooth sauce, it’s best to strain it through a fine-mesh sieve after blending.
  • Season the sauce: Let the blended sauce simmer for a while so the flavors deepen and meld together.
  • Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 15kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.8g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 234.7mg | Potassium: 46.8mg | Fiber: 0.7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 556.4IU | Vitamin C: 1.1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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