Red chile sauce

3 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
2tablespoonsLard or bacon drippings
2tablespoonsFlour
¼To 3/4 cup ground red chile
2cupsCooled beef bouillon or water
Up to 4 ounces of tomato sauce (optional)
¾teaspoonSalt
1Garlic clove, crushed
Pinch of ground Mexican oregano (optional)
1dashOf ground comino (optional)

Directions

Makes about 3 cups

Melt lard in a saucepan over low heat. Add the flour and stir until well mixed and slightly browned.

Add teh smaller amount of chile to the bouillon or water, either when trying a new batch of chile or when preparing this recipe for the first time. Taste, then add more chile after the water is well mixed into the roux. Stir constantly when adding the water and continue to stir until a smooth sauce is obtained. Add tomato sauce, if desired.

Slowly add it to the dlour mixture, stirring constantly.

Season; taste and adjust the seasonings.

Simmer for at least 10 minutes, or longer, to develop the flavor.

Jane Butel's Tex-Mex Cookbook From the collection of Jim Vorheis