Aji Verde Peruvian Green Chili Sauce Recipes

AJI VERDE (PERUVIAN GREEN CHILI SAUCE)

Steps:

• Some recipes call for cilantro leaves only, but I threw in the stems as well to add some liquid to the sauce. I know cilantro is an acquired taste, so substitute with iceberg or romaine lettuce if you want a neutral taste but want to retain the green color.
• Halve and de-seed the chili peppers. Make sure you wear gloves or thoroughly wash your hands afterward. And don't rub your eyes!
• Puree all the ingredients in a blender, food processor, or hand immersion blender. It's like making pesto, start with the basic portions and adjust according to your taste. What worked for me was roughly those amounts. Add mayonnaise for creaminess. You can add water too if the sauce appears too thick. I've seen some recipes that called for white cheese or nuts, but felt those were too strong in taste since the versions of aji sauce that I've liked were light in flavor, with just an undertone of spiciness.
• Serve with bread for dipping.

PERUVIAN GREEN CHILE SAUCE (AJI VERDE)

Steps:

• Combine olive oil, cilantro, jalapenos, mayonnaise, and garlic in a blender and puree. Slowly add as little water as needed to create a smooth, creamy consistency. Season with white wine vinegar and salt.

AJI VERDE (SPICY PERUVIAN GREEN SAUCE)

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, combine all of the ingredients. Blend until the cilantro has broken into very tiny pieces and the sauce is green and mostly smooth (no matter how long you blend it, it will still have some texture to it).
• Taste, and adjust if necessary. This sauce is intentionally bold and spicy and I usually think it's just right as written. However, if the flavor is too overwhelming, blend in 1 tablespoon of olive oil while running the food processor. If it's not spicy enough, add some of the reserved jalapeño seeds and blend again. If it doesn't have enough zip, add another tablespoon of lime juice and/or a pinch of salt.
• Aji verde keeps well in the refrigerator, covered, for about 1 week.

PERUVIAN GREEN SAUCE

Steps:

• Saute the onion in a small skillet with 1 teaspoon of the oil until soft, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer to the blender then add the remaining oil, mayo, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper.
• Then add the chopped jalapeno, cilantro and garlic and blend on high speed until the sauce is smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds.

PERUVIAN CHICKEN WITH AJI VERDA SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse and clean chicken with lemon and vinegar, pat dry.
• In a medium bowl, combine all chicken marinate ingredients. Aji Panca Paste, aji Amarillo paste, cumin, paprika, chile seasoning , liquid aminos, brown sugar, green seasoning ,lime juice, adobo, oregano and salt.
• Add the chicken to a large bowl with the marinade. Marinate for 30 minutes the least, inside the refrigerator or overnight.
• While chicken is marinating. Season your potatoes with left over marinade, about 2 tbsp. Next add adobo and Italian seasoning to the potatoes.
• On a large baking tray, add chicken and potatoes. Bake at 400F for 60 minutes or until it reaches a temperature of 165F.
• Enjoy!