Guys, it’s THE SAUCE. Yes, my famous Aji Verde Sauce you all want the recipe for. Make it and eat with EVERYTHING.
Seriously, everything. Any protein or vegetable (I love it with my Spicy Peruvian Chicken). Smear it on a sandwich, a burger, a wrap. Do you like fried food? Use this as a dip. I promise you will not regret it – this Aji Verde Sauce will be what makes your dinner parties great. Everyone will ask for the recipe.
What is aji anyways? It’s actually a variety of chili pepper, mostly found in Peru, that ranges from mild to very hot and comes in all different colors, even purple! It’s very common to buy aji chili pepper paste to use in cooking, which is what I use in this sauce. You can use the paste for an assortment of dishes and marinades – it’ll add an amazing pop of flavor and you’ll thank me for introducing you to it.
I learned how to make this sauce when I was working at a Marcia Selden Catering, my first job after I graduated from culinary school. One of my best friends in the kitchen was Peruvian. He taught me how to make a version of Aji Verde Sauce. Unfortunately I didn’t write down the recipe, just memorized a list of ingredients. So, I went through lots of testing to bring you my version here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Ingredient Notes:
- Cilantro Stems – Most people only use the cilantro leaves when cooking, however the stems hold so much amazing flavor! Since we are blending them all up anyway, we might as well use the stems too, instead of throwing them away.
- Avocado – Many classic Aji Amarillo Sauce recipes have some type of cheese in them. But I decided to use creaminess from avocado as a substitute. I find it works very well, and like the sauce better this way!
- Aji Amarillo Paste – The aji amarillo is the yellow aji pepper, which is more mild than other varieties. I am obsessed with all the pastes that Inca’s Food makes, and luckily they are easy to buy on Amazon, check it out here. Don’t skip on this ingredient, it’s the most important part of the recipe!
Aji Verde Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeños seeded and roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves and thin stems
- 3 scallions whites and greens, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 avocado
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons aji amarillo paste
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1-1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a blender or Vitamix and puree until smooth. Taste and add more salt if needed.
Why would you make it green? The yellow Aji is part of what makes this special. Also covering up the amazing flavor of the Aji with jalapeño??? Please no. Not an authentic recipe or even a good one.
Hi Jessi, I appreciate your feedback. This is just my version, as none of my recipes are authentic or copies, they’re only my own. And you’re probably right, I should change the recipe title to Aji Verde Sauce instead. Maybe it’s not an authentic recipe, but it is delicious. I’m sorry if you made it and did not like it.