Tex Mex Paste Recipe

Since everybody loves a bit of zest in their life, Tex Mex Paste is perfect for adding an earthy and spicy flavor to any of your dishes.

It is a mixture of tomato puree paired with sauces and spices that create lots of Tex-Mex flavors you need in your Mexican-inspired food.

You’ve probably heard about Hello Fresh, which sends uncooked meal kits to your door.

The Hello Fresh Tex Mex Paste comes with a smoky and fiery flavor bringing some heat to anything from stir-fries, salads, tacos, burritos, etc.

So, if you’re looking for an authentic Hello Fresh Tex Mex Paste recipe to make at home, you’ve come to the right place.

How to Make Tex Mex Paste

Generally, Tex Mex Paste is a savory and sweet paste made up of a mixture of spice and tomato paste.

But in reality, it is more than that.

This paste calls for a flavorful group of ingredients, each contributing to the fiery flavor of the paste.

It has fire-roasted tomatoes, smoky chipotle peppers, onions, paprika, garlic powder, and chili.

Each ingredient creates the delicious and healthy Hello Fresh Tex Mex Paste no one can resist.

Besides, it is one of the most valuable parts of every cook’s arsenal since they can combine it with other ingredients for a marinade, cooking spray, topping, or dipping.

Now let’s sum this up to get a complete list of ingredients.

Ingredients:

(20 servings)

Dry ingredients:

• 3 tsp chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optionally onion powder)
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1 1/2 tsp paprika
• 6 tsp cocoa powder
• 4 tsp salt
• 4 tsp sugar

Wet ingredients:

• 4 1/2 tsp garlic chili paste
• 4 1/2 tsp rice vinegar
• 4 oz Chipotle chili pepper
• 5 tsp tomato paste
• 21 oz. fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 1/2 bulb baked garlic (homemade)
• 3 white onions (pureed)

Instructions

The best part about this Hello Fresh Tex Mex Paste is that you can make it using ingredients in your pantry or making a quick trip to the store.

It is easy to make, and you have it ready in about 15 minutes.

Tex Mex Paste is excellent for everyone who loves Mexican food or hasn’t yet found something that will make them love it.

This paste will do the trick.

But to make it the right way, you must pay attention to the details.

The biggest fear is a watery paste which is not ideal for the situation.

So you have to use less oil or water depending on the dish you want to use with the paste.

Use less water if a dish requires lots of sour cream or cheese and less oil if the dish needs less fat.

At the same time, if the dish is too thick, you need more water or oil in your paste.

Other than that, try to use fresh spices for a newer and richer taste or even add a splash of lemon or lime juice.

Step 1:

Roast the garlic. Cut off the end of the bulb of garlic and sprinkle olive oil over it.

Wrap it in tin foil and bake for about 30-40 minutes at 400°F.

Step 2:

Cover 4 oz. of dried Chipotle pepper with water in a small pot.

Bring to simmer and let it simmer until soft for about 15-20 minutes.

Step 3:

Slice the onion and put it in the food processor to puree.

Add roasted garlic, softener chilis (drained), and the fire-roasted tomatoes also drained.

Blend the mixture until smooth.

Step 4:

Transfer the puree to the pot, add the remaining ingredients and mix to combine.

Bring the mixture to boil over medium heat, stirring for about 15-18 minutes.

Take off the heat once a pleasant and comforting aroma spreads all over the kitchen.

Note: if you don’t have enough time and can’t follow the Tex Mex Paste recipe steps, you can mix the BBQ sauce and taco seasoning.

But, honestly, it won’t even stand against the tomato paste we’ve just made.

Store or serve along other staples of Tex Mex cuisine.

Ingredient Substitution

The variety of ingredients in this Tex Mex Paste leaves much room for experimenting.

You can substitute almost all of the ingredients without noticing a swap.

You can reduce or increase the heat by adding more or less of the spicy component or simply removing some of them.

Here are a few things to consider.

1. Curry Powder

Curry powder contains a mix of spices that often contains coriander, turmeric, ginger, chili, and other spices.

It has savory and sweet undertones, bringing depth to the dishes.

Besides, just like coriander, it will bring an exciting and warm flavor to this Tex Mex Paste.

However, curry powder tends to have a robust flavor, even in small amounts.

So it would be best to start by adding half the amount when substituting coriander here.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar made from apple cider that has undergone fermentation.

So it is the closest match to the sweet-to-sour profile of rice vinegar.

Unsurprisingly apple cider vinegar has a hint of apple flavor which is quite subtle.

For this recipe, you can freely substitute apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar in equal amounts.

3. Diced Tomatoes

If you can’t find fire-roasted tomatoes in your local store or roast them yourself, you can use a simple substitute – diced tomatoes.

Besides, if you have a can of diced tomatoes instead of fire-roasted tomatoes, it works as well.

The general consistency of the recipe will remain the same, though the flavor will lack some complexity.

To compensate for that, you can add more spices for the right smokiness level.

What to Serve with Tex Mex Paste

It is not hard to guess what works best with the Tex Mex Paste since it has a Mexican origin.

Considering this, anything from tortillas, rice, beans, tacos, enchilada, and veggies will taste wonderful when paired with this savory paste.

To save you time, we’ve already gathered all the best ideas.

Meatballs

Meatballs are definitely at the top of the best comfort food dishes since they are both juicy and tender.

This Meatballs recipe is quite different from the meatballs you’re used to since they turn out succulent and delicate inside with little to no effort.

How can you use the Tex Mex paste with meatballs? Meatballs require a nice tomato sauce on top.

But to elevate the recipe, you can substitute it for your savory and smoky Tex Next Paste. The result will surprise you.

Chili

Tex Mex Chili is a world-famous Mexican dish with a complete flavor profile that tastes incredibly well all year round.

It is the perfect comfort food you can enjoy on its own or the side of rice, pasta, or pretty much everything.

Although it calls for a tomato paste for the chili gravy, you can use Tex Mex paste instead.

The best thing is you don’t have to be shy with spices and herbs when it comes to chili.

However, you’ll have to consider reducing them in the chili recipe since Tex Mex paste already has a complex profile.

In this case, you may even consider removing the seasoning from the chili recipe, reducing the time required to make the chili with this paste.

How to Store Tex Mex Paste

HelloFresh Tex Mex Paste is ideal for marinating, dipping, or topping.

So keeping it fresh and safe is very important for future use.

Luckily this paste stores well in both the fridge and freezer.

Follow these tips to extend the shelf life of your Tex Mex tomato paste and enjoy it on various dishes in days to come.

Store Tex Mex Paste in the Fridge

The best option to store Tex Mex paste is the fridge since it won’t survive on the counter for long.

Glass jars or airtight containers should do it.

But ensure they are perfectly clean first, so the mold doesn’t grow.

It will last in the fridge for 7-10 days if stored properly.

Store Tex Mex Paste in the Freezer

Storing this paste in the freezer is also possible.

It will keep it fresh for significantly longer.

A great way is to use an icecube tray to create manageable portions.

Fill the ice cube tray with the paste and let it freeze.

Then transfer the cubes to a freezer bag and store about for 2-3 months.