If you landed here, chances are you’re looking for the Hello Fresh Tex Mex paste recipe. Tex Mex paste is a sauce or marinade that was created by the popular food subscription service. Both savory and sweet, it’s a versatile, all-rounder that goes great with chicken, ground beef, or pork.
And they’ve really hit the bull’s eye with this one! Interestingly, although it was created in Texas, it has become quite popular in Mexican cuisine as well. And it is quickly becoming a cult classic among home chefs scouring the web for the best Tex Mex paste recipe. Well, fret not … you’re at the right place.
What is a tex mex paste?
Tex Mex paste is a combination of pureed tomatoes, onions and chilies with a six-spice blend and herbs that will make your taste buds beg for more.
With a consistency like BBQ sauce, this paste pairs well with Tex-Mex and Mexican dishes, and I love Hello Fresh Tex Mex paste in burgers! And I’ll let you in on a secret.
If you haven’t got much time and want to whip up a quick Tex Mex paste substitute, you can use tomato paste with a dash of paprika. Shh!
What is tex mex paste made of?
Fire-roasted tomatoes: Fire-roasted tomatoes add a sweet yet smoky flavor to Tex Mex paste. You can buy canned fire-roasted tomatoes. Or, you can roast your own tomatoes over an open flame to make your own fire-roasted tomatoes.
Chipotle peppers: Chipotle peppers are smoked jalapenos that have been dried. You can buy them in a jar at the supermarket. The ones in adobo sauce are my personal fave.
White onions: There aren’t many dishes complete without good old onions. And when it comes to sauces or pastes, onions add a noticeable depth of flavor.
Roasted garlic: Roasted garlic is a very important part of Tex Mex paste. It adds a nutty element and roasting it mellows out the flavor.
Rice vinegar: Rice vinegar is often found in Asian dishes, added to soups and sauces. It lends the perfect amount of acidity to this Tex Mex paste recipe.
Tomato paste: The recipe calls for tomato paste, one of the main elements of this spicy, fiery sauce. Aside from flavor, it also helps in thickening the sauce. If you don’t have tomato paste at hand, ketchup is a good substitute.
Garlic chili paste: Hey, can you ever get enough garlic? Aside from adding a depth of flavor to the sauce, it also helps with texture.
Sugar: Although Tex-Mex paste is spicy and slightly smoky, it has a hint of sweetness in it thanks to sugar. If you prefer to omit sugar from your recipe, you may use coconut sugar, a healthier alternative.
Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder is an interesting addition to Tex Mex paste, giving it a slight chocolatey flavor. And who could say no to chocolate? Also, it helps make Tex Mex paste look more appealing. Go for a quality cocoa powder.
Ground coriander: If coriander tastes soapy to you, you can omit it. I personally like the citrusy taste, adding a hint of freshness to our paste.
Dried oregano: Dried oregano adds a hint of spice and bitterness with sour undertones to our Tex Mex paste.
Chili powder: Chili powder is used generously in this paste — that’s where the heat comes from. In our not-so-secret-anymore six-spice blend, you use double the amount of chili powder compared to most other spices. But of course, if you can’t take the heat, feel free to reduce the amount.
Paprika: Paprika adds a sweet, peppery taste to the much-beloved Tex Mex paste. Also, it will add some depth and volume to your paste.
Cumin: Cumin is a spice found in many Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. It adds a nutty flavor to your dishes, pairing well with peppers. It is also known to combine well with coriander and chili powder, two spices present in this paste.
Garlic powder: What dish is complete without MORE garlic? This root vegetable adds a big punch of flavor to just about any dish, and your Tex-Mex paste wouldn’t be the same without it.
Salt: Salt adds a finishing touch to your Tex-Mex paste, bringing all the flavors together.
How to roast garlic
Until I started roasting garlic (for nearly everything), I assumed it was an intimating or “fancy” process. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here’s how to roast garlic:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Cut the top fourth of the garlic head off (or enough until the garlic has been exposed and cut into)
- Drizzle olive oil on the top
- Wrap the head of garlic in tin foil
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until the garlic cloves are easily squeezed out
How to make Tex Mex Paste Recipe
Since Hello Fresh introduced the world to Tex Mex paste, food bloggers and enthusiasts have tried to recreate its flavor. There are quite a few variations and homemade Tex Mex paste recipes out there.
I’ve tried out a couple and made some variations while still attempting to copy the exact taste of the original.
Ingredients
- 1½ tsp ground coriander
- 1½ tsp dried oregano
- 3 tsp chili powder
- 1½ tsp paprika
- 1½ tsp ground cumin
- 1½ tsp garlic powder
- 4 tsp salt
- 3 white onion dices
- 2 heads roasted garlic
- 5 tsp tomato paste
- 4 oz chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 21 oz fire-roasted tomatoes
- 4½ rice wine vinegar
- 4½ garlic chili paste
- 6 tsp cocoa powder
- 4 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Roast your garlic (see instructions above for roasting garlic)
- To start, create the spice blend with the dry ingredients. Add the coriander, dried oregano, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and garlic powder to a bowl. Then, mix your spice blend thoroughly.
- With a food processor, puree your onions and roasted garlic bulb.
- Next, add your tomato paste, chipotle peppers, and fire-roasted tomatoes to your pureed onion and garlic in the processor. Blend the mixture once again.
- Place your mixture in a small pot or saucepan. Add the spice blend, rice vinegar, chili paste, sugar and cocoa powder to the mix.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly, bringing it to a simmer over medium heat for 16 minutes.
- Remove your paste from the heat and allow it to cool.
- Once it cools down, use an immersion blender to get a smoother paste.
- As it cools down, your paste will thicken. Enjoy!
Tex Mex Paste Recipe
Equipment
- 1 immersion blender optional
Ingredients
- 1½ tsp ground coriander
- 1½ tsp dried oregano
- 3 tsp chili powder
- 1½ tsp paprika
- 1½ tsp ground cumin
- 1½ tsp garlic powder
- 4 tsp salt
- 3 white onion dices
- 2 heads roasted garlic
- 5 tsp tomato paste
- 4 oz chipotle peppers in adobo sauce or half a small can
- 21 oz fire-roasted tomatoes
- 4½ rice wine vinegar
- 4½ garlic chili paste
- 6 tsp cocoa powder
- 4 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Roast your garlic (see instructions above for roasting garlic)
- To begin, we want to create the spice blend with our dry ingredients. Add the specified amounts of coriander, dried oregano, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt and garlic powder to a bowl. Then, mix your spice blend thoroughly.
- With a food processor, puree your onions and roasted garlic.
- Next, add your tomato paste, chipotle peppers, and fire-roasted tomatoes to your pureed onion and garlic in the processor. Blend the mixture once again.
- Place your mixture in a small pot or saucepan. Add the spice blend, rice vinegar, chili paste, sugar and cocoa powder to the mix.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly, bringing it to a simmer over medium heat for 16 minutes.
- Remove your paste from the heat and allow it to cool.
- Once it cools down, use an immersion blender to get a smoother paste.
- As it cools down, your paste will thicken. Enjoy!
Nutrition
How to Use Tex Mex Paste
Tex Mex paste, as the name implies, goes well with Mexican and Tex Mex cuisine. Way to state the obvious! If you fancy spicy food, chances are you will love this paste. It adds another dimension to dishes like enchiladas, tacos, and burritos.
For instance, I like incorporating Tex Mex paste in my Chipotle Fajita Veggies recipe instead of the seasoning. My chipotle fajitas recipe already includes garlic powder, pepper, and cumin.
Replacing those with Tex Mex paste will add a hint of smokiness to your dish that pairs beautifully with charred vegetables. I also like to incorporate Tex Mex paste in my Mexican stews and soups. Yes, I admit it, I can’t get enough of spicy food!
One day, I had some leftover Tex Mex paste in the fridge, and I could hear it calling out my name. It was a cold winter day, and I also had some leftover Stuffed Pepper Soup. The two made such a heavenly combination that I wondered why I didn’t think of it sooner!
Frequently Asked Questions About Tex Mex Paste
How spicy is tex mex paste?
To the average palette, Tex Mex paste is considered quite spicy. I’m generous with the chili powder, but if you don’t think you can handle all that fire, I advise halving the amount listed in the ingredients.
Also, you can add more tomato paste to make your Tex Mex paste less spicy. It all depends on how you like it!
How do I store tex mex paste?
Stored at room temperature, Tex Mex paste will only last a day at most. So, it’s advised to store it in the fridge, in a glass jar or Tupperware container.
How long will tex mex paste last?
Stored in the fridge, your Tex Mex paste will stay good for up to 2 weeks. If you’d like to store it for longer, you may keep it in a freezer-safe container or an ice cube tray for up to 6 months.
Have questions or suggestions about this Tex Mex paste recipe? Leave them in the comments below.
