Chile Colorado

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I went on the hunt for a recipe similar to one my dad used to make when we were kids.  He always called it Chile Colorado.  It was a red sauce over beef that we ate with flour tortillas, but it wasn't hot-spicy, just delicious.

This recipe hits my memories right.  I tweaked it since I don't have a  gluten-free need and I have an Instant Pot pressure cooker.


Modified recipe:


3 cups water
9 dried large red New Mexico chili peppers (stems removed)
2 lbs cubed beef stew meat
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
1/2 medium white onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cans chicken broth (about 3 cups)
1/2 tsp ancho chile powder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano


Tear the dried peppers into large pieces and try to dump out as many seeds as you can. Bring the water to a boil, turn off and then add the chili pods to soften for 20 minutes. While the chiles are soaking, heat 1 tbsp of  the oil in the Instant Pot on saute mode and cook the onions until soft and add the garlic for just the last minute. Scrape the onion/garlic into the jar of the blender.  

Toss the meat with the flour and salt and pepper.  Heat 1 tbsp oil in the Instant Pot and brown the meat for about 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat while you go finish the sauce in the blender.

Drain the softened chiles (throw away the water, it will be bitter) and add the softened chiles, chicken broth, chili powder, cumin and oregano to the blender jar.  Blend until smooth and carefully pour through a mesh strainer into the Instant Pot bowl over the browned meat.   Set the timer for 25 minutes on high pressure.  Once the timer goes off, do a quick release to open up and eat!  I like to take a warmed flour tortilla and fill with the meat, roll it up and smother in sauce and top with cheese.  Place under the broiler until the cheese is melty and serve with toppings like sour cream, tomatoes, lettuce and sides such as rice or beans.

This sauce is some work, but it sure is tasty. Its great for making smothered burritos, enchiladas, or just eating out of a bowl with a side of warm tortillas.  You can just make the sauce without the meat and use it as enchilada sauce.  If you want to spice it up, try it with a different variety of dried chiles or add some jalapeño!