Peruvian green sauce (Aji Verde) is a fresh, spicy green condiment from Peru and it’s fabulous, drizzled on anything from the grill.
If you are a fan of light, bright, and flavorful sauces, this one is for you! You can adjust the spice level to make it more or less spicy depending on your tolerance.
Peruvian Green Sauce
We’re obsessed with this sauce! We like to serve it over grilled chicken and rice. It sort of reminds us of a chimichurri type sauce. You can drizzle it over just about anything from veggies, grilled meats, rice, eggs, and more.
If you’ve been to a Peruvian restaurant, you’ve probably had some version of this sauce. We’ve tried many variations and today’s recipe is the one we enjoy the most.
If you have a look online, you’ll see a ton of recipes that call for cheese. This isn’t our favorite way to make it. We skip the cheese altogether and use Romain lettuce, cilantro, garlic, and mayonnaise.
We also like adding both lime juice and vinegar. The vinegar adds a bit of tartness while the lime brightens the sauce.
You can make your sauce mild or spicy simply by using the whole jalapeño or seeding it.
Peruvian green sauce, Aji Verde, is also great as a dipping sauce and can be served as such.
Peruvian Green Sauce Ingredients:
To make this Peruvian Green sauce recipe, you will need:
- Romaine lettuce: Add liquid once it is pureed and helps thin out the sauce
- Cilantro: The best part of the sauce
- Green Onions: They’re mild; you can use red onion for stronger flavor
- Jalapeño: Use the whole pepper or seed it depending on how spicy you’d like the sauce.
- Garlic: Because garlic makes everything taste good
- Lime Juice: Use the juice of two limes for the best possible flavor
- Vinegar: We enjoy the extra tartness
- Mayonnaise: The base of every Aji Verde
- Seasoning: Cumin, salt, and pepper
How to Make Peruvian Green Sauce:
To make this Peruvian green sauce recipe, simply…
- Place all the ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth. That’s it. It’s so simple and takes just 5 minutes!
- Taste and adjust. Give the sauce a taste, and season with extra vinegar, lime, salt, pepper, or cumin.
- Use it right away or refrigerate it for later. Serve it with grilled chicken and vegetables.
Peruvian Green Sauce Variations:
There are quite a few ways you doctor up this potsticker sauce recipe.
- Add grated cotija or parmesan cheese: Toss in 2 tablespoons of cheese and puree.
- Add Aji Amarillo paste: Add 1 tablespoon. It can be found at Latin or Mexican markets or on Amazon.
- Add honey: Use just a teaspoon or two.
- Add fresh basil: Toss in 1/4 cup fresh basil and puree.
- Add Sriracha sauce: This is for all you Sriracha lovers!
How to Store Peruvian Green Sauce:
Refrigerate – Store sauce in a jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Dipping Sauces
When it comes to dipping sauces, we always have something on our plate. Here are a few of our favorites!
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Simple Peruvian Green Sauce (Aji Verde)
Ingredients
- 1 head Romaine lettuce, stem trimmed and discarded
- 1 cup (16 grams) fresh cilantro, stems removed
- 4 green onions
- 2 jalapenos, seeded*
- 2 garlic cloves
- fresh juice from 2 limes
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/2 cup (112 grams) mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine lettuce, cilantro, green onion, jalapenos, garlic, lime juice, and vinegar in a blender. Blend on high until smooth.
- Add the mayonnaise and cumin. Blend until completely incorporated.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with grilled chicken, veggies, and/or rice.
- Store sauce in a jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Make ahead tip
- Refrigerate – Store sauce in a jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
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