🔁 COPYCAT RECIPE. This is a home cook's recreation, not Torchy's official recipe. Torchy's hasn't published theirs. It's adapted from My Conscious Eating.

Diablo is the sauce Torchy's regulars dare each other to try: habanero heat with a sweet tomato finish that keeps you going back for more. This version gets close. Wear gloves when you handle the habaneros, and don't touch your eyes.

Makes about 2 cups · Prep 20 min · Cook 20 min

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup diced white onion

  • 1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced

  • 3 to 4 habaneros, stems removed

  • 12 ounces tomato sauce

  • 1/2 cup diced green chiles

  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

  • Lime juice to taste

Method

  1. Put on gloves. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook the onion, garlic and habaneros until the onion turns glassy, about 5 minutes.

  2. Add the tomato sauce and green chiles and cook another 5 minutes.

  3. Stir in the vinegar and salt, lower the heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Finish with a squeeze of lime.

  4. Let it cool a few minutes, then blend until completely smooth. Thin with a little water or lime juice if you like it looser.

Tip: Start with 3 habaneros. You can always blend in another, but you can't take one out.

Rather let Torchy's make it?

🍽️ Locations and menu: torchystacos.com

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