How to Make a Spicy Taco Sauce

Spice up your tacos, quesadillas or sandwiches with this taco sauce recipe. You can add as many or as few ingredients as you want. This homemade spicy taco sauce can be easy to make, and it tastes better than what you get in the grocery store.

Things You'll Need

• 4 fresh or 2 cans tomatoes
• 1 onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• 3 jalapeno peppers
• Green chiles
• Lemon juice
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Cumin
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Cayenne seasoning

Instructions

1. Start with a knife or a food processor. Peel and dice 4 cups of medium tomatoes. You can also use two cans, or 28 ounces, of whole tomatoes. Chop one small onion and cut one green bell pepper into diced pieces.

2. Combine the ingredients from Step 1 in a large saucepan. Wear rubber gloves before touching the hot peppers. Dice or cut into smaller strips 3 teaspoons of jalapeno peppers to add to the saucepan. Also, add a 4-ounce can of green chiles.

3. Remove the gloves and wash your hands so that you don't burn your eyes or face. Simmer all of the ingredients, along with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, for one hour at a stove temperature of 95 to 100 degrees F. Stir occasionally to blend.

4. Add 1/2 teaspoon each of cilantro, parsley and cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and cayenne pepper to taste. Stir the taco sauce mixture, then simmer again for 45 minutes. Serve the sauce immediately, or let it cool so that it can be refrigerated. Store the spicy taco sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate it until it's ready to be eaten.

Tips & Warnings

• This spicy taco sauce recipe makes six to eight servings. You can add a little water if you want a thinner sauce, and use one or two tablespoons of vinegar to reduce the heat. To make it more spicy, add more cayenne seasoning or add one or two teaspoons of chopped habanero peppers. Follow Step 2 and remember to wear rubber gloves while handling the habaneros.