8 ancho sauce recipes

Taco lentils simmer green lentils until tender, then bake them in a smoky pureed ancho chile and tomato sauce spiced with cumin and chili. A high-protein, high-fiber vegan stand-in for taco meat.

Authentic mole poblano sauce made from scratch with mulato, ancho, pasilla, and chipotle chilies, roasted vegetables, toasted nuts, sesame seeds, and Mexican chocolate. A complex, deeply layered sauce worth every minute.

Mexican braised lamb shanks with ancho chiles, raisins, and vinegar in rich tomato sauce. Fall-apart tender meat ready in 3 hours for special dinners.

Smoky chipotle-ancho chili pesto with roasted red bell pepper, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil. A bold, vegan Mexican-inspired sauce for pasta, grilled meats, or sandwiches.

Super nachos with a quick stovetop cheese sauce made from nacho cheese, milk, and chili powder poured over tortilla chips and topped with sliced jalapenos. Ready in under 20 minutes.

A vegan cheese sauce made without cheese or nuts, blended from potato, pimento, and nutritional yeast into a smooth, pourable, cheesy-tasting sauce. Dairy-free comfort for nachos, pasta, or veggies.

Make-ahead taco meat with ground beef, onion, cumin, and tomato sauce. A freezer-friendly batch base for taco nights, burritos, nachos, and quick weeknight bowls.

Crispy cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips layered nacho-style and drizzled with homemade chocolate sauce and buttery caramel, finished with chopped pecans. A fun shareable Mexican-inspired dessert ready in 30 minutes.