Peruvian Green Sauce Aji Verde (Printable)

Vibrant creamy sauce with fresh herbs, chili peppers, and lime.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed
02 - 2 green onions, roughly chopped
03 - 1 to 2 fresh jalapeño or ají amarillo peppers, seeded and chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, peeled
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

→ Dairy and Pantry Staples

06 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
07 - 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
08 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
11 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make:

01 - Add cilantro leaves, green onions, chili peppers, and garlic cloves to a blender or food processor bowl.
02 - Pour in lime juice, mayonnaise, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), Parmesan cheese, olive oil, white vinegar, kosher salt, and black pepper.
03 - Process on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
04 - Taste the sauce and adjust salt, pepper, or chili quantity to reach your preferred heat level.
05 - Transfer to a serving bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It takes ten minutes from blender to bowl, which means you can impulse make it while your main dish rests.
  • The creaminess from mayo and sour cream balances the chili heat so perfectly that even people who fear spice keep coming back for more.
02 -
  • The sauce will taste sharper right out of the blender than it will after chilling, so do not panic and overseason before it has rested.
  • Aji amarillo paste is worth seeking out at a Latin grocery if you want that true Peruvian flavor, but fresh jalapenos are a perfectly honorable substitute.
03 -
  • Use a high speed blender if you have one because the smoother the texture, the more professional the result will taste and look.
  • Letting the sauce rest overnight transforms the flavor completely, so if you are cooking for guests, make it the day before and watch them try to guess the secret ingredient.

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