Description
Aji Verde Sauce is a fresh, vibrant, and flavorful green sauce that combines fresh herbs, tangy citrus, and mild spice. Perfect as a versatile condiment for grilled vegetables, roasted chicken, seafood, sandwiches, or as a dip, this plant-based recipe is easy to prepare, customizable in heat and texture, and keeps well for meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (stems removed)
- 2 green aji peppers, seeds removed for less heat, roughly chopped (substitute jalapeños if desired)
- 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plant-based mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (natural)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Seasonings and Others
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon natural gelling agent
Instructions
- Prepare Your Fresh Ingredients: Finely chop the fresh cilantro, removing thick stems to avoid bitterness. Trim the aji peppers or jalapeños by removing seeds if a milder heat is preferred. Roughly chop the garlic cloves. This fresh preparation will form the bright foundation of your sauce.
- Blend the Ingredients: Place the cilantro, peppers, garlic, plant-based mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar (natural), lime juice (natural), olive oil, salt, and pepper into a food processor or blender. Pulse until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed to ensure even blending.
- Add Your Natural Gelling Agent: Sift in a small amount of the natural gelling agent to slightly thicken the sauce. Blend lightly again to incorporate without losing the fresh texture.
- Taste and Adjust: Sample the sauce and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt, lime juice, or peppers to suit your palate perfectly.
- Chill Before Serving: Transfer the sauce to a clean container or jar and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Chilling lets the flavors meld and creates a creamy, cohesive texture.
Notes
- Use fresh cilantro for the best flavor and vibrant green color.
- Control the spice by adjusting the amount of aji peppers or jalapeños.
- Balance acidity carefully with lime juice and apple cider vinegar (natural).
- Use a high-speed blender or food processor for the smoothest texture.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze in ice cube trays for portioned servings, keeping frozen for up to 3 months.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature; avoid heating to preserve fresh herb quality.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Aji Verde, green sauce, plant-based sauce, cilantro sauce, spicy sauce, condiment
