Make way in your fridge for your new favorite condiment! Aji verde sauce, or Peruvian green sauce, is the perfect salty, spicy, bright combination you didn’t know you needed!
Aji verde sauce is a staple in any Peruvian restaurant. This bright green sauce is the perfect compliment to chicken, pork, fish, tostones, potatoes, and so much more!
Sauce Ingredients
So what is in aji verde sauce? This version uses cilantro as the base to get the beautiful bright green color. A little bit of heat (or a lot depending on your tolerance) comes in from the use of jalapenos. A salty kick is brought in by cotija cheese, the latin version of parmesan. Garlic, vinegar, lime juice, and mayo round out this flavor bomb and create the perfect, smooth texture.
Pro tip: use a really powerful blender or food processor to make sure the sauce is perfectly blended. My go-to is the NutriBullet Pro Plus.
True aji verde sauce found in Peru contains black mint and hot yellow pepper, known as aji amarillo. Those ingredients are a little bit harder to source here in the states, but I am a cilantro feak, so I don’t mind the flavor this version has one bit! If you can get those ingredients, though, go for it!
What can I just Aji Verde Sauce with?
Honestly, Peruvian green sauce goes with just about anything, the same way you would use hot sauce or ranch! It pairs beautifully with grilled foods, making it a great and refreshing addition to your summer cookouts.
- Grilled fish
- Pork chops
- Grilled vegetables (potatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, corn)
- Eggs
- Tostones
- French Fries
- Salads
- Sandwiches
No matter what you top, dip, or slather this sauce with, you won’t be disappointed!
Aji Verde Sauce
Ingredients
- 1-2 jalapenos, ribbed and seeded to taste
- 1 cup cilantro stems and leaves
- 2 tbsp cotija cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh minced garlic
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor. I highly recommend the NutriBullet Pro Plus for small batch sauces like this one.
- Taste and add more salt/pepper as needed.
- Serve chilled or room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week
