Description
This homemade taco sauce is a flavorful and easy-to-make accompaniment for tacos and other Mexican dishes. Made with simple pantry ingredients like tomato passata, spices, and herbs, it provides a balanced mix of smoky, spicy, and savory notes. Perfect as a dipping sauce or a topping, it can be quickly prepared on the stovetop and stored for convenient use throughout the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 cups / 500ml tomato passata or puree OR 1 can (16 ounce) US tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup / 185 ml water
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 + teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust heat to taste)
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Place all ingredients in a saucepan and mix thoroughly to ensure the spices are evenly distributed throughout the tomato base.
- Simmer the Sauce: Heat the saucepan over medium-low heat and let the sauce simmer gently for 10 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Cool and Serve: Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl and let it cool before using. It pairs beautifully with tacos and other Mexican dishes.
- Storage: After cooling, refrigerate the sauce for up to 5 days or freeze it for longer storage. Make sure to store in an airtight container to preserve freshness.
Notes
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper to control the heat level depending on your preference.
- Using tomato passata will give a fresher tomato flavor compared to canned tomato sauce.
- This sauce makes around 2.5 cups and yields about 1 serving portion as a condiment.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and consume within 5 days for best quality.
- The sauce can also be used as a base for other Mexican-inspired dishes or as a marinade.
