why does my red chile sauce taste bitter

This post has kindly been sponsored by The Hatch Chile Store. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After creating countless batches of red chile sauce from powder, I have learned a thing or two. Creating your own homemade red chile sauce from powder is very satisfying, easy, a handy skill, and money saving! Skip the work of preparing dried chile pods and use the chile powder that most people have stocked in their pantry. Plus making chile sauce at home is like getting a big hug from your abuela and will fill your home with the delicious smell of chile!

I specifically developed this recipe to create the most delicious and flavorful batch of red chile sauce possible with red chile powder. May recipes use onion and garlic powders; however, the taste of using fresh onion and garlic is so much better, because (science) you can use the ‘Maillard’ effect of browning in a hot pan to deepen and intensify flavors.

While researching this article, I also ran into some recipes that added raw flour into the recipe and then didn’t cook it long enough to get rid of the raw flour taste! That is definitely a no-no and will contribute to your sauce tasting bitter.

I once ended up with a bitter chili sauce because I didn’t squeeze out enough of the soaking liquid from my anchos. I decided next time I try the sauce maybe I’ll give them a good soaking, then wash them under running water, and then dry them out. Yup! Too much soaking liquid in the sauce.

Can I use Red chile sauce for enchiladas?

Definitely yes! Some of the very best enchiladas are made with simple red chile sauce. Don’t have any canned enchilada sauce? No problem! Just make this red chile sauce from powder recipe and use it instead. If you want your homemade sauce to taste more like storebought red enchilada sauce, add in a few spoonfulls of tomato sauce and a splash of vinegar.

Commercially made enchilada sauce tastes different from homemade red chile sauce becasue it is blended with tomato and vinegar to adjust the pH so the sauce will be shelf-stable in a can and still taste good. Red chile sauce on its own is unsafe to can.

Remember, red chile sauce is a condiment, like ketchup. It’s something that you use to make food taste better or different. It’s not something that you just eat alone. (Although I wouldn’t put it past some people to straight up eat chile sauce on its own).

Is red chile sauce the same as enchilada sauce?

Red chile sauce is not the same as enchilada sauces made commercially; however, they are very similar in that each uses chile sauce as its main ingredient and each can be used to make enchiladas. Enchilada sauces originally were simply various chile sauces made regionally in Latin America before commercialization.

So red chile sauce or enchilada sauce can be used interchangeably to make enchiladas. The same goes for enchiladas verde, or enchiladas made with green chile sauce.

Mexican RED CHILE SAUCE Recipe for Tamales, Enchiladas, Asado, Chili con Carne & More

FAQ

Why does my red chili taste bitter?

How do you make red enchilada sauce not bitter?

How do you fix bitter sauce?

Why does homemade chile sauce taste bitter?

A universal complaint about homemade chile sauce is its tendency to taste bitter. That can be because of the peels of the chili peppers or because they were scorched when toasting them. Whatever the reason, if your chile sauce is too bitter for you, add a little brown sugar.

What causes a sour taste?

The sour taste can be due to a dry tongue caused by dehydration and inadequate intake of water. The other reasons are poor oral hygiene, not brushing the teeth properly, smoking, and increased age. Taking certain medications and cancer therapy also causes a sour taste. Acidity and gastroesophageal reflux disease also lead to a sour taste. Certain infections, fever, and sickness are also the causes of sour taste.

Why does Chili taste bitter?

Chili can give a bitter aftertaste if it is cooked for too long. When the chili is overcooked, it can alter the taste and turn the whole dish taste bitter. Not only that, but the bitter taste can also be the cause of adding too much garlic and frying it for too long. That can also revise the taste of your chili.

How to fix bitter red chili sauce?

“How to fix bitter red chili sauce” is a question that has been asked by many people. The answer is not easy and the best way to avoid the bitterness is to use sugar, vinegar, or lemon juice. Read more in detail here: how to fix bitter red chili sauce.