When it comes to finding the best green enchilada sauce at the grocery store, there are a few key factors to consider:
Flavor
The flavor of the green enchilada sauce is perhaps the most important factor. You’ll want to find one with a nice balance of spiciness, tanginess, and overall depth of flavor. Many grocery store varieties tend toward being fairly mild, so you may need to do some tasting tests to find one with the right kick for your preferences.
Consistency
A good green enchilada sauce should have a nice smooth consistency, not too watery or thin. It should coat the back of a spoon well. You don’t want a sauce that’s overly thick like pasta sauce, but it shouldn’t be runny either.
Quality of Ingredients
Check the ingredient list to get a sense of whether the green enchilada sauce is made with quality whole ingredients. You’ll typically want to see things like tomatillos, green chiles, cilantro, garlic, onion, and oil or broth in the list. Avoid sauces with lots of thickeners, preservatives, and artificial flavors.
Brands to Look For
Here are some of the top brands and varieties of green enchilada sauce available at many grocery stores:
Brand | Variety |
---|---|
El Pato | Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce |
La Victoria | Green Taco Sauce |
Herdez | Salsa Verde |
Frontera | Green Chile Enchilada Sauce |
These brands offer great flavor, consistency, and quality. The Frontera sauce uses all natural ingredients while the El Pato and La Victoria sauces bring some nice heat to the table.
Price
Green enchilada sauce prices can range anywhere from $2 to $5 per bottle or can depending on brand, size, and quality. The sauces made by chef Rick Bayless’ Frontera brand tend to be at the higher end while basic store brands are cheapest. Consider how frequently you plan to use the sauce when deciding how much to spend.
Ease of Use
Be sure to take a look at the packaging when choosing your green enchilada sauce. Some varieties come in squeeze bottles or stand-up pouches which make it easy to pour out just the amount you need. Others may be canned or come in jars which require a bit more effort to spoon sauce out as needed.
Conclusion
When it comes to the best green enchilada sauce from the grocery store, Frontera Green Chile Enchilada Sauce stands out as a top choice. It strikes the perfect balance of flavor, spice, and quality real food ingredients. For an affordable option, El Pato Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce brings delicious authentic flavor. Whichever brand you choose, be sure to taste test a few options to find your favorite green enchilada sauce to amp up your Mexican cooking.