Burritos and enchiladas are two popular Mexican dishes that are often confused with each other. While both dishes use tortillas and fillings like beans, rice, cheese, and meat, the main difference lies in the sauce used. Burritos tend to use a tomato-based red sauce while enchiladas use a chile sauce.
What is burrito sauce?
Burrito sauce is a red sauce made from tomatoes as the base. It often contains tomatoes, garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and other spices. The tomatoes provide the rich red color and mildly tangy tomato flavor. Burrito sauce tends to be on the thicker side with a smooth consistency.
Some key characteristics of burrito sauce:
- Made with tomatoes as the main ingredient
- Has a bright red color
- Thick, pureed texture
- Savory, mildly spicy taste
- Often contains garlic, onion, cumin, oregano
Burrito sauce complements the other fillings like rice, beans, meats, and cheese that fill a burrito. It provides moisture and binding to hold the burrito together. The mild tanginess of the tomato pairs well with the other ingredients without overpowering them.
Common ingredients in burrito sauce
While recipes can vary, most burrito sauces contain some key ingredients:
- Tomatoes – The base and source of flavor. Canned tomatoes are most convenient.
- Onion and garlic – Provides aromatic flavors.
- Cumin – Earthy, warm spice flavor.
- Chili powder – Adds mild heat.
- Oregano – Herby, slightly bitter notes.
- Chicken or vegetable stock – Adds moisture and savoriness.
- Olive oil – Provides richness.
- Lime juice – A touch of brightness.
- Salt and pepper – Essential for seasoning.
The ingredients are sautéed to meld the flavors before being blended into a smooth, saucy texture. The sauce simmers until thickened before using in burritos.
Types of burrito sauces
There are a few main types of burrito sauce that provide slightly different flavor profiles:
- Traditional red sauce – The standard version made with tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, garlic, and onion.
- Enchilada-style red sauce – Made with guajillo chiles for a deeper, richer red color and more complex flavor.
- Green burrito sauce – Uses tomatillos as the base instead of red tomatoes.
- Mole sauce – A Mexican sauce made with chili peppers, cinnamon, cacao. Richer and more complex.
- Ranchero sauce – A bold, spicy tomato-chile sauce.
The traditional red burrito sauce is the most common and versatile, but the others can provide fun twists on flavor.
What is enchilada sauce?
Unlike burrito sauce, enchilada sauce uses chile peppers as the main ingredient rather than tomatoes. The sauce gets its signature red color from dried chile peppers that are reconstituted and pureed into a smooth sauce.
Some key qualities of enchilada sauce:
- Made with dried chile peppers
- Rich, deep red color
- Smooth, creamy texture
- Full-bodied, complex chile flavor
- Moderate heat
The flavor of the chile peppers shines in enchilada sauce. It coats the tortillas and fillings and adds delicious chili spice without being too hot for most palates. The deep red color comes from the reconstituted dried peppers.
Common ingredients in enchilada sauce
Authentic enchilada sauce contains just a few ingredients:
- Dried chile peppers – Most commonly ancho, guajillo, New Mexico, or California peppers. Provides the flavor and color.
- Onion and garlic – Extra flavor building blocks.
- Oil or lard – Provides richness and carries the flavors.
- Flour or cornstarch – Thickens the sauce.
- Chicken or vegetable broth – Adds moisture.
- Cumin, oregano, salt – Seasonings and salt.
The chiles are soaked in hot water to soften before being blended into the sauce. Onion, garlic, and spices enhance the chile flavor. A thickening agent helps create the iconic sauce-like texture.
Types of enchilada sauces
There are a few common varieties of enchilada sauce:
- Red enchilada sauce – The standard version made with red ancho and/or guajillo peppers.
- Green enchilada sauce – Made with green tomatillos and jalapeno or serrano peppers.
- Mole sauce – A complex sauce with chiles, spices, chocolate, seeds, nuts, etc.
- New Mexico sauce – Uses red New Mexico chiles for milder heat.
The traditional red enchilada sauce has ancho and guajillo chiles. Green sauce provides a fresh twist using green tomatillos and peppers. Mole sauce is very unique with many ingredients. New Mexico sauce offers milder spiciness.
Key Differences Between Burrito Sauce and Enchilada Sauce
While burrito and enchilada sauces are both red, tomato-based Mexican sauces, they have some clear distinctions:
Burrito Sauce | Enchilada Sauce |
---|---|
Made with tomatoes as main ingredient | Made with dried chile peppers as main ingredient |
Mildly tangy tomato flavor | Full, rich chile pepper flavor |
Thick, pureed texture | Smooth, creamy texture |
Mild spiciness | Moderate spiciness and heat |
Often contains spices like cumin, oregano | Usually only chiles with simple seasonings |
So in summary:
- Burrito sauce highlights the flavor of tomatoes while enchilada sauce highlights chile peppers.
- Burrito sauce has a thicker, more pureed texture compared to the creamy, sauce-like texture of enchilada sauce.
- Burrito sauce tends to be mildly spicy from regular chili powder while enchilada sauce gets more heat from chile peppers.
- Burrito sauce uses spices like cumin and oregano while enchilada sauce keeps seasonings simple.
How to Use Burrito vs. Enchilada Sauce
Due to their different flavors, burrito and enchilada sauce are not interchangeable in recipes. Here are some tips on properly using each sauce:
Burrito Sauce
- Use as a sauce or condiment in burritos, tacos, nachos, etc.
- Adds moisture and flavor when making fillings like ground beef, chicken, or vegetarian
- Use as an ingredient in dips, rice, chili, soups, stews, etc.
- Drizzle over burgers, pizza, sandwiches for a Mexican flair
- Use as a base for skillet meals like burrito bowls
Burrito sauce is very versatile thanks to its mild tomato flavor. It works well in many Mexican recipes as a sauce, condiment, ingredient, or cooking base.
Enchilada Sauce
- Traditionally used to make enchiladas by dipping tortillas in the sauce
- Can be served over enchiladas, tamales, nachos, tacos, tostadas, etc.
- Use as a base for braises, stews, shredded meat
- Stir into casseroles, chilis, soups for flavor and heat
- Use as a marinade for meats
Enchilada sauce has a specific chile flavor that is best used in recipes where that flavor will shine. It complements cheese, meat, beans, and vegetables in Mexican dishes.
How to Make Burrito vs. Enchilada Sauce from Scratch
Making homemade burrito or enchilada sauce is simple with just a few ingredients. Here is an overview of how to make each sauce:
Burrito Sauce
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno (if using). Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes and broth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Carefully transfer to blender. Puree until smooth.
- Return to saucepan and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Use warm or refrigerate for later.
Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients:
- 3 dried ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 3 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Remove stems and seeds from dried chiles. Place in bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for 20 minutes.
- Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Drain chiles and add to saucepan. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Transfer chile mixture to blender. Add small amount of water if needed. Puree until smooth.
- Return puree to saucepan. Whisk in flour until dissolved.
- Gradually whisk in broth. Bring to simmer.
- Add cumin, oregano and salt. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken.
- Adjust seasonings as needed. Use warm or refrigerate.
Which Sauce is Better?
Whether burrito sauce or enchilada sauce is “better” comes down to personal preference. Here are some factors to consider when deciding:
Burrito Sauce Pros:
- More versatile for using in various recipes
- Kid-friendly mild tomato flavor
- Thicker texture good for dipping, drizzling, topping
- Inexpensive and easy to make
Enchilada Sauce Pros:
- Authentic, traditional Mexican flavor
- Complex, full chile taste
- Adds great flavor and heat to recipes
- Smooth, creamy texture coats enchiladas nicely
For a more universal sauce, burrito sauce may be a better choice. But for traditional, authentic Mexican enchilada flavor, you can’t beat a good enchilada sauce!
Conclusion
While burrito and enchilada sauce may look similar at first glance, they are quite distinct in terms of ingredients, texture, and usage. Burrito sauce relies on tomato for tangy flavor while enchilada sauce is all about deep, rich chile pepper taste. Burrito sauce works well as a versatile condiment or cooking ingredient while enchilada sauce is best reserved for enchiladas and dishes where its flavors will stand out.
Both sauces have delicious qualities in Mexican cuisine and shine in their intended uses. When used properly, burrito sauce brings a mild, family-friendly kick while enchilada sauce offers full-flavored, traditional Mexican spice. With the right recipe, both sauces can be easy to make at home from scratch.
So while burrito vs. enchilada sauce may cause confusion initially, understanding their distinct qualities helps bring out their best flavors for Mexican food fans to enjoy.