Spicy Aji Verde Sauce Recipe

Quick Fiery Aji Verde Sauce Recipe: Ignite Your Tastebuds!

Drizzling with vibrant green hues, this spicy aji verde sauce brings explosive flavor to any dish.

Jalapeños and cilantro combine in a zesty blend that electrifies your taste buds.

Peruvian cuisine shines through this remarkable condiment, offering a punch of heat and brightness.

Fresh herbs mingle with tangy elements, creating a sauce that dances across your palate.

The verde sauce serves as a perfect companion for grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and seafood.

Simple ingredients transform into a culinary marvel that elevates every bite.

Unleash this bold sauce and watch your meals come alive with authentic South American flair.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 10 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 4

Ingredients for Aji Verde Sauce

For Green Base:
  • Jalapeño Peppers: Brings vibrant heat and authentic Peruvian zest to the sauce, choose bright green, firm peppers without blemishes.
  • Cilantro: Adds fresh, herbaceous flavor and classic green color, select bright green leaves with no wilting.
  • Garlic: Provides pungent depth and aromatic complexity, pick firm cloves without sprouting.
For Creamy Binding:
  • Mayonnaise: Creates smooth, rich texture and helps emulsify the sauce, opt for high-quality, full-fat version.
  • Sour Cream: Contributes tangy richness and balances spice, select fresh, creamy variety.
For Flavor Enhancement:
  • Lime Juice: Introduces bright, citrusy acidity that lifts the entire sauce, choose ripe, heavy limes with smooth skin.
  • Salt: Amplifies and harmonizes all other flavors, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
  • Black Pepper: Adds subtle warmth and complexity, freshly ground provides the most robust taste.
  • Olive Oil: Helps create silky consistency and rounds out flavor profile, use extra virgin for best quality.

What Tools You Need for Aji Verde

  • Blender or Food Processor: Essential for creating a smooth, creamy sauce quickly and efficiently.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise measurements ensure the perfect balance of flavors.
  • Rubber Spatula: Helps scrape down the sides of the blender to incorporate all ingredients.
  • Airtight Container: Ideal for storing the sauce in the refrigerator.
  • Sharp Knife: Useful for chopping fresh herbs and ingredients before blending.
  • Cutting Board: Provides a clean surface for ingredient preparation.

How to Blend Peruvian Green Sauce

  • Toss Everything In The Blender

Grab your blender and dump in all the delicious green sauce ingredients for a quick and zesty Peruvian condiment that’ll make your taste buds dance.

  • Pulse Into Silky Perfection

Blend everything until the mixture transforms into a smooth, vibrant green sauce with no lumps – aim for that creamy, restaurant-quality texture by stopping and scraping down the sides.

  • Fine-Tune The Flavor

Take a quick taste and give the sauce a little love. Need more zing? Add a splash of lime. Craving more salt? Sprinkle a pinch. Trust your palate and make it sing.

  • Chill Or Serve

Pour your gorgeous green sauce into a container and either serve it right away as a killer dip or condiment, or stash it in the refrigerator. It’ll keep its magic for up to a week, ready to elevate any dish with its bright, bold personality.

Tips to Balance Heat and Freshness

  • Use freshly picked cilantro and parsley for the most vibrant and intense flavor profile in your aji verde sauce.
  • Adjust jalapeño quantity to match your heat preference – remove seeds for milder sauce or add extra for more kick.
  • Transfer sauce to an airtight glass container to maintain maximum freshness and prevent flavor degradation in the refrigerator.
  • Swap Greek yogurt with vegan alternatives like cashew cream or silken tofu for a plant-based version that maintains creamy texture.
  • Use as a marinade for grilled meats, drizzle over roasted vegetables, or use as a zesty dipping sauce for appetizers like empanadas or grilled proteins.

How to Serve Aji Verde Like a Pro

  • Green Sauce Flavor Companion: Pair this zesty Peruvian sauce with grilled chicken, fish tacos, or roasted vegetables for a burst of vibrant flavor.
  • Dipping Delight: Use as a creamy, tangy dip for crispy potato wedges, tortilla chips, or fresh vegetable crudités to add excitement to your snack time.
  • Marinade Magic: Marinate chicken, shrimp, or tofu in this sauce before grilling or baking to infuse deep, herbaceous notes into your protein of choice.
  • Sandwich Spectacular: Spread a generous layer on sandwiches, wraps, or burgers to elevate your lunch with a bright, spicy kick that transforms ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences.

Save Aji Verde for Future Dishes

  • Transfer the aji verde to an airtight glass container with a tight-fitting lid to maintain maximum freshness and prevent flavor loss in the refrigerator.
  • Allow the sauce to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving to help ingredients meld and intensify the taste profile.
  • Divide the sauce into smaller portions using silicone ice cube trays for convenient single-serving sizes that can be easily thawed and used.
  • Freeze aji verde for up to 2 months in freezer-safe containers, ensuring you always have this zesty sauce ready for spontaneous meal enhancement. Remove from freezer and thaw in the refrigerator overnight before use.
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Spicy Aji Verde Sauce Recipe

Spicy Aji Verde Sauce


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 40 reviews

  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 5 1x

Description

Zesty Peruvian aji verde sauce blends fresh herbs and spicy jalapeños into a creamy, tantalizing condiment. Green magic drizzled over grilled meats or used as a bold dipping companion, this sauce promises culinary excitement for taste adventurers.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) cilantro leaves, fresh (packed)
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, stemmed (seeds removed for less heat)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) queso fresco or Parmesan cheese, crumbled or grated
  • 2 tbsps (30 ml) lime juice, fresh
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) salt

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Combine jalapeños, cilantro, garlic, aji amarillo paste, mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor.
  2. Blending: Pulse ingredients until achieving a silky, vibrant green sauce, periodically stopping to clear sauce from container walls using a spatula.
  3. Seasoning: Sample the sauce, fine-tuning flavor balance by incrementally adding salt or citrus juice to enhance overall taste profile.
  4. Storage: Transfer sauce to an airtight container, either serving immediately alongside grilled meats, seafood, or vegetables, or refrigerating for optimal freshness within a week’s timeframe.

Notes

  • Use jalapeños carefully to control spice level, allowing cilantro’s fresh flavor to shine without overwhelming heat.
  • Blend ingredients thoroughly but avoid over-processing to maintain a vibrant, slightly textured sauce with visible herb specks.
  • Transfer sauce to an airtight container with minimal air exposure to preserve bright green color and prevent oxidation.
  • Experiment with sauce consistency by adding more olive oil for drizzling or reducing liquid for a thicker dip-like condiment.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: Peruvian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 5
  • Calories: 80
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 3 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 5 mg
William Hawkins

William Hawkins

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

  • Modern American and Southern Cuisine
  • Farm-to-Table Practices
  • Restaurant Concept Development
  • Culinary Education and Mentorship​

Education

Sullivan University, Louisville, KY

  • Degree: Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Focused on mastering culinary methods and food science, immersive externships, hands‑on training in industry‑standard kitchen labs, and equipping graduates for roles in restaurant operations.

William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary. 

With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist. 

When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.

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