Basic Red Sauce (salsa De Chile Rojo)

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 8 ancho chilies, dried
• 3 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon dried mexican oregano (regular will do)
• 1 tablespoon cumin seed
• 1 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 soak chiles in warm water until softened, about 30 minutes. drain; strain and reserve liquid. remove stems and seeds and membranes from the chiles. cook and stir onion and garlic in oil in a 2-qt. saucepan until onion is tender. add chiles and 2 cups of the reserved liquid , the tomato sauce, oregano, cumin and salt. simmer uncovered 20 minutes. cool.
• 2 transfer to blender container; cover and blend on low speed until smooth. strain. refrigerate sauce no longer than 10 days.
• 3 note: i strain mine in a mesh strainer or colander. it takes a few minutes, but keep thinking of how great this is going to taste!