I grew up in West Texas and this is the sauce my granny used for her enchiladas. I love this stuff.
Sadly, you could only get it in places like Muleshoe or Farwell, Texas unless you venture into New Mexico. Then you could find it in Texico or Clovis. If I remember correctly, it's made in Texico, New Mexico.
A few years ago I couldn't find my sauce in any stores in any of the four towns listed above. Imagine, a crazed lady driving around two states hunting enchilada sauce in a little yellow and blue can, muttering under her breath. It was sad.
I had to do without my sauce for almost two years. We were on an enchilada strike until El Monterrey took pity on the hoards of sauce lovers. Imagine the sales of beef, cheese, and tortillas plummeting, causing mass panic among beef and wheat producers.
Finally, El Monterrey came back and gave us our beloved enchilada sauce once more. They changed the packaging to a bag and naturally jacked the price up a bit. I didn't care. My sauce was back and we could have enchiladas once more.
The first thing I did when I found out we were moving to Oklahoma was buy every bag of enchilada sauce I could find, which turned out to be a measly 9 bags. Nine bags doesn't last long when you like enchiladas and your family begs for them regularly.
I enlisted the help of my mother in my enchilada sauce quest. She located 15 bags and bought those for me and sent them my way.
Whew! Crisis averted....until today.
I'm making enchiladas for dinner. I've hunted through the pantry and all of the cabinets. I'm down to my last bag of enchilada sauce. Woe is me.
I called the El Monterrey company and am thrilled to tell you they still make it. They won't send me any, but they still make it. I asked them about stores that carry it and was shocked to learn that S&S Supermarket in Clovis, NM is the only place it can be found.
I'm afraid when DH goes to see his folks the next time, he's going to have to make an enchilada sauce run.
If you every see this stuff anywhere pick up a bag or two or a dozen. If you don't like it let me know and I'll take it off your hands.
20 comments:
Free shipping when you buy a gazillion packages: http://www.lizziesmenagerie.com/esauce.html
What's in it? Any mystery flavorings?
Here's a thought, have you tried doing a search on the recipe? I know several sites have copy cat recipes for store brand products. It would be great if you can make it yourself so you will always have it at hand! I've never seen it before but sure would like to try it someday! Good luck!
Annie, no mystery flavorings that I can detect. I really think it's all in the proportions.
The ingredients are flour, chili pepper, salt, and spices.
Yeah, which spices? Hmmm.
Sue, if I can get my hands on a few extra bags I'd be happy to send you one.
I'll see if I can find the recipe online anywhere. Thanks for the suggestion.
My wife and I grew up in Muleshoe, TX. The El Monterrey was the only place to go!
You can now buy the packaged sauce at United Supermarkets here in Lubbock. If you are close to one (maybe Witchita Falls?), I bet they can get it for you.
By the way, our family will be having El Monterrey enchilades for Christmas dinner this year - forget that ol' dry turkey and ham.
Merry Christmas to all.
Keith and Jane
My mother grew up in Farwell, and El Monterrey has been a family tradition forever. Which United did you find it at? I could not find it at the 82nd & Frakford location. Thanks.
My sister and I were just talking about this the other day. We grew up in Friona, TX and this was the only sauce my mom used. I remeber when we thought they were going to quite making it all three of us went out and bought every one that we could find. Mom would use it for enchiladas, mexican hotdish, etc. My sister and I now live in the Kansas and Oklahoma area and since the passing of our Mom, we lost any connection to obtaining the sauce. I just found it online and I'm going to see if see wants to go in "halfers" with me on a case of the stuff.
Greetings to my neighbors. I grew up in the Lazbuddie community and went to school at Dimmitt. Not many people recognize those names, but I know all of you will. It was great to read your input regarding the El Monterrey sauce. Also a staple in my child hood. When you say Mexican food it was understood to be the El Monterrey in Clovis.
I have found the sauce in Lowes grocery stores in Dimmitt, Tulia and in Memphis. I made all three stops and was able to scarf up 12 cans. But recently I have found all that I needed in Dimmitt at the Lowes grocery when I visit family.
Aunt Jo, I too live in Oklahoma. I love my childhood and my West Texas heritage but I also love the rolling hills of Oklahoma and the trees.
Hi there, My husband's family is from Texas and New Mexico, the first time we ever had this sauce mix was at my mother in law's which she brought some back from Clovis, NM after visiting with my husband's aunt, yes, it is the real thing and we loved what my MIL made. She then shared some with us and also had the aunt ship some out many years ago, then we had no more, so we felt just as you did:) This year we finally made the trip to see my husband's family in Clovis and while there I went and bought a case of it but also talked to the people at the store about having them ship it to me in the future, those that I talked to at the S & S Market seemed agreeable, matter of fact the guy even called the boss who was not at work to see if they could or would ship. So it might be worth it to give them a call and see if you could get some shipped to you. I found your link as I was looking online to see if there were any other recipes to be had for this mix! My case was worth the $90.00 I spent to bring it back home to CA with me.
Hi,
How neat that so many of us share the same memory of El Monterrey restaurant and sauce. I just found a website today that sells the sauce mix. It is Lizzie's Menagerie in Clovis. phone 505-762-2501. Friona is my home town. I now live in the Dallas area and have missed the sauce for years!
Shawn
I grew up in Clovis and we went to the El Monterrey as much as we could. My Mom would buy the "sauce" all the time. When they went out of business it was a shock. Then one of the sons started the "sauce". If memory serves me right the resturant was started up again for awhile. For along time they only had a license to sell the 'sauce" in state. They are working on a site on the web. It is http://www.elmonterrey.com/ Seeing a picture of the old resturant sure brings back memories.
Charlotte in NH
Like many commenting here, I grew up in Clovis...thought the only Mexican food in the world came from the El Monterrey. I subsequently moved away but had my sister who lived in Hobbs send me the sauce ever so often. She has since moved to San Antonio so I had to do some looking. We were able to contact S&S supermarket in Clovis and arrange to have a case shipped. If you love El Monterrey sauce, buying a case is no big deal....goes fast and freezes well. The website is apparently still under construction... the picture of the restuarant was neat to see. I remember sitting in the waiting area just inside the doors many times....place was always packed.
I am in the same boat as all of you. My mother grew up in Clovis, NM and made enchiladas for us as kids. I just found this on-line and am going to give it a try...
Enchilada Sauce (El Monterrey Brand- Clovis, NM)
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 t. paprika
8 oz. chili powder
1 T. garlic powder
1 1/2 T. salt
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. oregano
MIX ALL DRY INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND STORE IN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER.
TO USE MIX:
2/3 C. DRY MIX WITH 1 QT. WATER AND COOK TOGETHER UNTIL WELL BLENDED AND THICKENED.
OR FOR A SMALLER USE, 1/3 C. POWDER TO 1 PINT WATER.
YIELDS 4 C. DRY POWDER
MAKE THOSE ENCHILADAS AND ENJOY!!!!!! OLE!!!
Tips: Store in the freezer. Use fresh cumin. Makes 6 quarts. Consider cutting in half.
Can you tell me what is in the sauce mix? I want to make sure it doesn't have MSG or weird things before I spend $112.
HI, I now live in East Texas in the little town of Tatum outside of Longview. I too grew up in Dimmitt, TX and most of my family still lives there also. I and my family absolutely love El Monterrey Enchildada Sauce and I used to have my mother send it to us all the time then she couldn't get it either. She tried to send another different sauce mix and my family especially my daughter said absolutely not they wanted the orig el monterrey. So I am once again ordering online to get it so that my family can have one of their favorite meals, my chicken enchiladas with El Monterrey Sauce mix.
P.S. The Bag has a web site of www.elmonterrey.com on it but it doesn't come up with anything so just checking to make sure it's right.
Www.shopsands.com
They sell the sauce by the half and full case!
For New Years day I made enchiladas. I had searched high and low for this sauce but all the places that I was told had it online could not be found. Well, I went to Trader Joe's and bought 3 jars of their sauce. 1 jar is enough for 1 doz or so enchiladas. This stuff seriously tastes almost identical to El Monterey and brought back so many good memories of my mama's enchiladas! I have family in Clovis, but they have a hard time finding the sauce too. I think we are going to stick with the Trader Joe's brand since we are never close enough to Clovis to search for ourselves anymore!
March 3, 2013, found it at Market Street, 50th and Indiana, Lubbock, Texas! and bought some.
There is nothing comparable to ElMonterrey! We grew up in Littlefield, Lubbock, and Clovis. These enchiladas were always such a wonderful experience. After moving far away we would have family members pick it up for us......then the drought came! I am so glad they have it for sale again! I made the copy cat recipe and its good but it is missing something! Can't go wrong with this stuff!:)
I think this is the original recipe for El Monterrey Enchilada Sauce:
http://thespicytexan.com/travel/el-monterrey-enchilada-sauce/
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