Peruvian Green Sauce Aji Verde (Print Version)

Creamy, vibrant sauce with fresh herbs, chili peppers, and lime. Ideal for drizzling or dipping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
02 - 2 green onions, roughly chopped
03 - 1 to 2 fresh jalapeño or aji 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 It:

01 - Place the cilantro leaves, green onions, chili peppers, and garlic cloves into a blender or food processor bowl.
02 - Pour in the 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 reaches a smooth, creamy consistency, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
04 - Taste the sauce and adjust the salt, pepper, or chili heat level to your preference by adding more pepper or seasonings as desired.
05 - Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes ten minutes from cabinet to table and tastes like you spent hours perfecting it.
  • The creamy heat clings to roasted chicken, crispy fries, and even plain rice in a way that makes you question why you ever bought bottled sauce.
02 -
  • If you skip the resting time the garlic will taste aggressive and the heat will feel scattered rather than rounded.
  • Leaving seeds in the peppers transforms this from a friendly condiment into something that clears sinuses, so start seeded and add heat gradually.
03 -
  • A high speed blender gives the smoothest result, but a food processor works fine if you do not mind a slightly rustic texture.
  • Doubling the recipe is never a mistake because people will ask you for the jar before the night is over.

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