Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce, My Review of it

Beef Enchiladas - They looked so good but when we tasted them, oh man, the sauce really ruined them!
United States
June 7, 2008 2:51am CST
Usually when I make enchiladas I use a package sauce mix like Lawry's. It's what we've used for years and we like it. It does add some extra time to the cooking though because you have to mix the package with some water and tomato sauce or paste and then cook it for five minutes or so. Not a whole lot of work but I'm still not quite back to being able to do a lot of cooking since my recent surgery and its complications so I try to use a lot of short cuts. So the other day when we had some unexpected company [my parents], we needed a quick lunch. Everyone was hungry and it was up to me to make something for everyone because it was my turn to cook. My daughter and I take turns cooking. We had a large can of Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce that we had gotten from the food pantry and since all I had to do was open the can and use it, it seemed like a good idea to make enchiladas with it. Mom helped me by cooking some hamburger and we both grated some cheese. I cut an onion to add to the enchiladas and I started layering the corn tortillas with cheese, hamburger meat, onion, sauce, tortilla, sauce, cheese, hamburger meat, until everything was gone and I ended up with sauce on top and added cheese. I didn't individually roll the enchiladas because that takes more time! :-) With my mom's help, everything went pretty fast and then I popped the tray of enchiladas into the microwave for ten minutes. After the ten minutes, everything was hot and the cheese was melted and it looked absolutely delicious! I cut the enchiladas and mom and I started dishing up plates of food and cups of iced tea for all the adults. The kids won't touch enchiladas! The complaints started immediately. My adult daughter began by saying that the taste reminded her of the enchiladas she'd had and HATED at the private church school that she went to when growing up. Then came dad's complaints, he said they reminded him of institution food like at the rest home where grandma lives when they go over to visit her and stay and eat in the cafeteria there with her. Mom said they were hot and burned her tongue [she has problems with her tongue and spicy food is painful for her]. And I have to admit that I complained too. The flavor of the sauce was hot and spicy and sort of bitter. I didn't like it at all. I did go ahead and eat it because frankly we don't get to waste food unless its spoiled and inedible. But I have to tell you, it was tempting to throw all the enchiladas into the trash! Next time we have enchiladas, we will be using a package mix and will not ever use canned sauce again. I can not recommend Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce since it was not a success for me and my family. We didn't even consider it to be worth the price of FREE that we didn't pay for it!
1 person likes this
2 responses
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
7 Jun 08
I'm an enchillada addict! I love the Las Palmas or El Paso sauce. I have found receipes to make it from scratch but haven't had a chance to do it yet. But, although just my opinion, I think meat enchilladas just don't make the cut. Has to be cheese and cheese only - okay add olives and onions, but I have tried the beef and that just seems to dry it all out. WHen I make them I warm a corn tortilla in hot oil, only 3-4 seconds - this gives the torts a flavor, softens them up to roll and also adds moisture so they aren't so dry. THen I dry off with paper towels, add cheese and roll. THen place them in a dish and continue tuntil the dish is full. THen I pour the sauce over them, add more cheese and diced onions and olives. I will nuke it, but if I put it in the toaster oven, cover with foil, it seems to blend the flavors a bit more. I could sit and eat the entire dish! I'll have to try the Lawrys package mix. Never have.
1 person likes this
@caribe (2465)
• United States
2 Aug 08
I have never used Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce, however I use Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce and it is in a can. I love enchiladas but I mainly eat cheese enchiladas because they are my favorite. The problem could have partly been microwaving them. I think they are much better in a conventional oven so the flavors have time to absorb the food. I like lots of onion and cheese in my enchiladas. Now I am hungry for enchiladas.