12 Homemade Sauces for Tamales
Whether they’re wrapped in masa or on their own, tamales are always a tasty treat!
Of course, it’s the sauces for tamales that really make them so delicious.
Typical tamale sauces include salsa verde, mole, and red chili sauce.
But those aren’t the only options you have. There are also unique tamale sauces like pumpkin mole sauce and birria sauce!
Sauces for Tamales
Like smoky, spicy, savory, tangy, creamy, or sweet sauces?
Whatever you’re in the mood for, this list of tamale sauces has something that will suit your taste!
Related: 40 Traditional Mexican Foods You Should Try (+ Recipes)
1. Red Chili Sauce (Salsa Roja)
The key to a great tamale is the sauce.
A popular choice for adding flavor to your tamales is Red Chili Sauce (Salsa Roja).
While it is easy to purchase pre-made sauce, homemade Red Chili Sauce is much more flavorful!
It’s easy to make. Simply mix together whole peeled tomatoes, yellow onions, garlic, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt.
In less than 30 minutes, your homemade Salsa Roja will be ready to enjoy with your tamales.
2. Green Chili Sauce (Salsa Verde)
I’m a big fan of salsa verde! Salsa verde for tamales is a flavorful and easy-to-make sauce that requires a few simple ingredients.
It typically includes tomatillos, chili peppers, onion, and cilantro, which are blended together to create a tangy, herbaceous flavor.
The roasting of tomatillos and chili peppers gives it a rich and smoky taste, while cilantro and lime juice add a freshness to the sauce.
It takes less time to make than other sauces and adds a great flavor to your tamales.
You can adjust the heat level by adding more or less chili peppers, and you can also add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Mole Sauce
Mole sauce is the stuff of legends.
It’s a rich and complex sauce that’s steeped in history and tradition.
Homemade is always better. Just combine chili peppers, chocolate, and a variety of spices, it’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
It’s perfect for tamales because it adds depth and complexity to the dish. The chocolate adds a richness that’s unmatched by any other sauce.
It’s like a warm hug for your taste buds.
4. Chipotle Sauce
Chipotle sauce is like a party in your mouth.
It’s smoky, spicy and has a little bit of a kick. It’s perfect for tamales because it adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to match.
The smokiness comes from the chipotle peppers, which are smoke-dried jalapeño peppers.
These peppers give the sauce a unique flavor that’s perfect for tamales. And it’s easy to make too.
All you need is a blender, some chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and a few other ingredients. It’s the perfect sauce to spice up your tamales.
5. Tomatillo Sauce
Tomatillo sauce is a sauce that packs a punch.
It’s tangy and slightly sweet, with a little bit of a kick.
It’s made with tomatillos, which are a type of Mexican green tomato.
They give the sauce a unique taste and texture that’s perfect for tamales. The sauce is also very versatile.
You can use it as a marinade, a topping, or even as a dip.
It’s also very easy to make. All you need is a blender and a few simple ingredients.
It’s the perfect sauce to add a little zing to your tamales.
6. Ranchero Sauce
Ranchero sauce is a sauce that’s full of flavor. Add chorizo for extra protein and smokiness.
It’s a tomato-based sauce with a hint of chili peppers. It’s perfect for tamales because it adds a nice balance of heat and sweetness.
The sauce is also very versatile. You can use it as a marinade, a topping, or even as a dip.
It’s also very easy to make. All you need is a blender and a few simple ingredients.
It’s the perfect sauce to add a little zing to your tamales. It’s like a little taste of the ranch in every bite.
7. Guajillo Sauce
Guajillo sauce is a sauce that’s full of flavor.
It’s a chili pepper based sauce that’s slightly sweet and smoky.
It’s perfect for tamales because it adds a nice balance of heat and sweetness.
The sauce is also very versatile. You can use it as a marinade, a topping, or even as a dip.
It’s also very easy to make. All you need is a blender and a few simple ingredients.
8. Adobo Sauce
Adobo sauce is a sauce that’s full of flavor.
It’s perfect for tamales because it adds a nice balance of heat, smokiness, and sweetness.
The sauce is often made with smoked paprika, garlic, cumin, and oregano, which give it a unique and authentic flavor.
You’ll be hooked!
9. Dulce de Leche Tamale Sauce
Dulce de Leche Tamale Sauce is a sauce that’s perfect for those who love a little sweet and creamy in their tamales.
It’s made with a combination of Dulce de Leche, cream and spices that gives it a rich and sweet taste.
The sweetness provides a creamy and rich taste that complements the masa of the tamales perfectly.
The best part is that it’s not as hard to make as you might think.
10. Cilantro Lime Sauce
Cilantro Lime sauce is a sauce that’s fresh, tangy and packed with flavor.
The sauce is often made with cilantro, lime juice, garlic and jalapeño, which give it a unique and authentic flavor.
The sauce is perfect for those who love a little tangy and spicy in their tamales.
11. Birria Sauce
Birria Sauce is packed with flavor and perfect for those heat seekers.
It’s made with a combination of chili peppers, spices, and beef broth that gives it a rich and savory taste.
It’s perfect for tamales because it adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to match.
The beef broth provides a thick and rich base, while the chili peppers give it a nice kick of heat.
This sauce is perfect for those who love a hearty and warming tamale.
12. Pumpkin Mole Tamale Sauce
Pumpkin Mole Tamale Sauce is made with a combination of pumpkin puree, mole sauce and spices that gives it a rich and unique taste.
The pumpkin puree provides a sweet and smooth taste that complements the mole sauce and spices perfectly.
This sauce is perfect for those who love a unique and flavorful tamale.
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