Name: Ají Verde (Peruvian Green Sauce) Keto, Low-Carb
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: ½ cup Mayonnaise; ½ cup Cotija Cheese; 2 teaspoons Ají Amarillo Paste; 2 Garlic Cloves; 1 bunch Cilantro; 1 Jalapeno, seeds included; 1 Lime, juiced; 1 teaspoon Lime Zest; Kosher Salt, to taste

Fall in love with this Ají Verde – spicy Peruvian green sauce. It’s the perfect spicy, tangy, flavorful addition to grilled meats, vegetables, tacos, and seafood!

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Need more condiments? Give these a try:

Ají Verde (Peruvian Green Sauce) Keto, Low-Carb in a small glass dish next to a head of garlic and a jalapeño pepper.

Peace, family!

Have you ever had a sauce that was so good that you were tempted to drink it? Okay, maybe not drink it, but find literally any dippable food as an excuse to indulge in its’ goodness? That’s what this sauce is for me. It’s salty, tangy, and flavorful with the perfect hint of spice. I use it for tacos, fries, grilled chicken, grilled vegetables, and even fish.

What Is Ají Verde?

Ají verde is a spicy, creamy, Peruvian green sauce. Recipes vary, but it typically includes a combination of jalapeno peppers, mayonnaise, cilantro, lime, cheese, and ají amarillo paste.

Is Ají Verde Keto?

My ají verde recipe contains just 1 net gram of carbs per serving (2 tablespoons), making it low-carb and keto-friendly. The sauce is also gluten-free!

What Tools Do I Need?

All you really need to make this ají verde is a food processor or blender and a zester for the lime. I’ve linked some good options in the recipe card below.

What Ingredients are in Ají Verde?

Overhead shot of cilantro, mayo, ahi amarillo paste, a knife, a jalapeño pepper, garlic cloves, Cotija cheese, a lime, kosher salt on a white cutting board.

To make this recipe, you will need the following:

Mayonnaise – since it’s a star ingredient I like to opt for a super high quality mayo.
Cotija Cheese – this gives the sauce a salty umami pop!
Ají Amarillo Paste – see below
Garlic – I like my sauce garlicky, so I opt for 2 cloves.
Cilantro – you don’t need to worry about chopping it since we’re using the food processor. Be sure to include the leaves and stems!
Jalapeño – seeds included
Lime – I use the juice and the zest in my recipe.
Kosher Salt– to taste

What is Ají Amarillo Paste?

Ají Amarillo paste is made of yellow chili pepper, salt, and citric acid. It’s a commonly used ingredient in Peruvian cuisine. It is very spicy, but when combined with the mayonnaise in my sauce it becomes much more muted. Feel free to customize your sauce by adding more or less of this Ají Amarillo paste.

Substitutes for Cotija Cheese

The Cotija cheese in this recipe gives the sauce a salty, savory, umami punch. If you can’t locate Cotija, try these cheeses instead:

Queso Fresco
Parmesan Cheese
Feta Cheese
Pecorino Romano

How to Make Ají Verde (Peruvian Green Sauce)

Ingredients for aji verde in a food processor.

This sauce is incredibly easy to make.

Add all of the ingredients, except the salt, to a food processor and pulse until a creamy sauce forms. Give it a taste to determine how much salt should be added. Done!

How to Store Ají Verde

This sauce will last, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to a week. It’s the perfect make-ahead condiment!

Serving Suggestions

Use this sauce with your tacos, grilled meats, grilled vegetables, wraps, salads, and even on seafood.

Try it out and let me know what you think! When you make it, be sure to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram or Facebook!

Peace,

Adri

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12 servings