The famous condiment that comes standard at any Peruvian restaurant! This Aji Verde Sauce recipe is quick and easy to make and is deliciously versatile!
What is Aji Verde Sauce?
A traditional Peruvian sauce, Aji Verde Sauce is a bright green chili sauce that comes standard in any Peruvian restaurant. A wonderfully flavorful sauce, it’s made with peppers, cilantro, garlic, green onion, lime juice, Cotija or Parmesan cheese, mayo, amarillo chili paste, and huacatay paste.
As already mentioned, it incorporates aji amarillo paste, a Peruvian chili paste, and huacatay paste, made with a green herb that’s very unique and indigenous to Peru. These are key ingredients and critical for achieving the right flavor, so don’t skip them. You can generally find these at well-stocked hispanic grocery stores. Huacatay paste can be a little more challenging to find. If you’re unable to find either of these pastes locally you can also purchase them line: Huacatay Paste and Aji Amarillo Paste.) Note:  If you’re making Pollo a la Brasa you will need these pastes for the chicken as well in addition to a third chili paste Aji Panca Paste.)
How to Serve Aji Verde Sauce Â
Aji verde sauce is most famously served with Peruvian roast chicken, known as Pollo a la Brasa, but it’s also deliciously versatile.  Serve it with:
- Grilled meats, poultry and seafood
- Tacos
- Grilled vegetables
- Fries
- Rice and beans
- Eggs
- Drizzled over salads
- As a dip for bread
- and more
Let’s get started!
This is extremely quick and easy to make.
Simply place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until you have a smooth sauce.
It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Aji verde is most famously served with what is perhaps the most popular dish in Peru:
Pollo a la Brasa (Peruvian Roast Chicken). Be sure to try our recipe for it, it’s finger-lickin’ delicious!
Enjoy!
For more delicious sauces from around the world be sure to try our:
- Romesco Sauce
- Jerk Sauce
- Ginger Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Bearnaise Sauce
- Remoulade
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
Aji Verde (Peruvian Green Sauce)
Ingredients
- 2 green jalapeno peppers , seeded
- 2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 small clove garlic
- 1 green onion , chopped
- 2 teaspoons huacatay paste
- 1 tablespoon aji amarillo paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup Cotija, Queso Fresco, or Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup good quality mayonnaise
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until a smooth paste. Keep refrigerated for up to a week.Makes about 3/4 cup.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet September 23, 2013
antoon cornelissen says
AS meat in South Africa has become tasteless and shrinks 40% any condiment or sauce to enhnce the eating experience is worth a try . Jalapenos are available ..6 types of chili peppers… so will go serching for the other NEW constituents or ask Spanish speaking folks what or where to find similars or others …. AND THEN HIT THE BLENDER …. cannot wait to get it on my plate
Kimberly Killebrew says
Wonderful, Antoon, I hope you enjoy it!
Angel says
You dont need to put the cheese! Save money is good without it
Kelly says
Such snobbery! EVERY culture adapts their recipes to fit what can be found fresh locally. To say that a crime has been committed because someone used the readily available jalapeño instead of the nearly impossible to find fresh aji amarillo is pedestrian at best. The hot pepper is there for the heat, as the nuanced flavor of it is lost under the other ingredients.
Tanner Davis says
The ajà amarillo isn’t there for the heat folks. It’s there for the flavor, ajà amarillo has a very distinct flavor, that’s why it’s in almost every Peruvian dish.
This is by far the best salsa Verde for pollo a la brasa that I’ve made
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Tanner, I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Everbizarre says
Just made it. Came out amazing! Its setting in the fridge right now.
Thank you for this recipe.
luis says
Peruvian recipies do no use jalapeno peppers.
Stayxsie says
Nope…that is a patently false statement. They absolutely do.
George says
my very good friend married one of the most beautiful woman from Cousco Peru. Altitude 3,400 meters or 11,200 feet. Plus she is a attorney. Cusco is higher up in the Andes. Just 75 km to Machu Picchu. The hot peppers are not used in restaurants and homes. in and around Cusco The use of these hot peppers such as you mentioned Jalapeno are only found and sparingly in cusines in locations around northern Peru and close to sea level.
I myself from Wyoming find the flavors of Peruvian food do not benefit from the addition of Hot peppers at all. I personally find the flavors of Peruvian food to be the most inventive and complex I have experienced in my travels around the world. Even within the USA. i have noticed that Peruvian restaurants have been popping up in every city. As they should. as one lady put it. Her experience with Peruvian food. Escaped the normal culinary descriptions and went straight to beautiful. With which I completely agree. For Peruvian food is in no way pretentious. Just Beautiful.
Roofeo says
Listen to George. He’s from Wyoming and knows a Peruvian person.
SS says
Amazing! I had to only add a bit more lime juice but turned out superb! Thank you.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Anonymous says
You’re right. I’m Peruvian. Jalapenos don’t exist in Peru. There’s nothing close to it. However, I use it because of lack of aji amarillo since I live in the States.
Edward Gwin says
I think it’s great, but replace the jalapeño with 1 rocoto and 2 aji Amarillo peppers
Anonymous says
Probably not in Peru,but in North America we use it in most Peruvian restaurant and not only JALAPEÑOS WR S AS LSO USE CHILE HABANERO.
Geoff McClure says
I have made a variation of this for some time now but I never knew of the huacatay or aji amarillo. This stuff is amazing! Thanks!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Geoff, thank you!
Nicolás says
Thanks for sharing a nice recipe from my country! And even though it sound really nice it would be a little offensive to any peruvian to hear that you’re using jalapeño (a mexican pepper) in a peruvian recipe!! I would recommend using only ajà amarillo and rocoto instead
Nicolás says
Also i forgot to mention that in Perú we call this sauce just Huacatay, like its main ingredient! Again thanks for the recipe!
Anonymous says
Not offensive for me ,we use jalapeños peppers in Peruvian restaurant here in the unites,and also habanero peppers.
Adam Walker says
Hi Kimberly, thank you for this wonderful Peruvian Green Sauce! I can’t thank you enough for this recipe. We have three Peruvian restaurants where I live, all with this wonderful green sauce. I have been meaning to try and duplicate it for years. Today I got around to it. One of the restaurants is called The Rocoto, after the Rocoto Pepper. Anyway, I knew the recipe had to have this ingredient, so I used your recipe, really only switching the Aji Amarillo Pepper for the Rocoto Pepper (both are spicy peppers). I am also vegan, so I used vegan mayo and left out the parmesan cheese (although I do love that stuff). Your recipe was so on target. Here is my vegan version of your great recipe. I hope you don’t mind the changes. Without you I could have never done this. Thanks!
Peruvian Aji Verde Sauce
2 green jalapeno peppers, seeded
1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
1 clove garlic
1 green onion, chopped
1 teaspoon huacatay paste (Inca’s Food brand)
1 teaspoon rocoto paste (Inca’s Food brand)
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ cup vegan mayo (Follow Your Heart Pea Protein brand)
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until a smooth paste. Keep refrigerated for up to a week.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Adam, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you! Thanks also for sharing your vegan version.
Kathy says
Finally an authentic Huacatay salsa as delicious as what I had in Peru.
You are my hero!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Woohoo!! That’s awesome, Kathy, thank you!
Alida Zavala says
The original recipe does not have japeno, the aji amarillo paste is enough.
Jay Ride says
Correct! I have never seen aji verde made with jalapeno and if you use aji panca and huacatay it is not needed. Authentic peruvian uses many different types of aji peppers I don’t know why one would add another random pepper to a relatively simple sauce.
Carmen yo says
That id right, jalapeno is for Mexican cuisine, please do not kill my Peruvian spices, use aji verde amarillo, verde lo llaman porque es el aji fresco amarillo. Sale perfecto pero no jalapenos por favor.
Anonymous says
IT CALLS FUSION AND NOBODY IS KILLING OUR DELICIOUS PERUVIAN FOOD IF WE DONT HAVE THAT PEPPERS IN OUR TOWN EASY WE JUST REPLACE IT AND LET ME TELL YO
PERUVIAN RESTAURANTS USE IT ALOT
Erik says
Whats the original recipe?
Nadia says
I learned about this sauce with ceviche. It is also amazing in chicken soup and all type of recipes. If you have a moment to post a ceviche recipe I would greatly appreciate. Thanks for sharing great wonderful sauce
Lin says
This sauce will make you love your vegetables! It’s terrific.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Lin!
spike says
i make the companion las brasas recipe often, but this sauce is fantastic for anything – I use it on banh mi sandwiches, put a dab on grilled steak, use it as a dip with pita, and of course with roasted chicken. I have experimented with cubanelle peppers as well for a milder spice.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It really is a terrific all-purpose sauce. Thanks, Spike!
Nanita says
Cottage cheese is a good summer substitute for queso, the missing ingredient in your recipe. It also lessens the need for mayonnaise.
Henry says
Great sauce! Tastes great on everything.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Henry!
jesusan says
Wow! Even not being familiar with the flavors of the pastes, this sounds divine. And even without yet trying it, thank you for choosing to be Santa… Looking forward to trying this eventually.
The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, Susan!