Description
This easy Aji Verde Sauce offers a bright, zesty, and creamy plant-based condiment bursting with fresh herbs, lime juice, and a customizable kick of spice. Perfect for drizzling on grilled vegetables, roasted meats, salads, or as a dipping sauce, it adds vibrant flavor and luscious texture to any dish in just minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Herbs and Vegetables
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, washed and roughly chopped
- 1 cup fresh parsley, washed and roughly chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, sliced (seeds removed for milder heat)
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 avocado (optional, for extra creaminess)
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plant-based mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (natural)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Fresh Herbs and Ingredients: Wash the cilantro and parsley thoroughly, remove thick stems, and roughly chop them. Peel the garlic cloves and slice the jalapeño pepper; remove the seeds if you prefer a milder heat.
- Blend the Base: In a food processor or blender, combine the fresh herbs, jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, and plant-based mayonnaise. Blend these until the mixture starts to form a creamy, well-blended base.
- Add Optional Avocado: Add avocado to the mixture now, if using, to boost creaminess and create a silky, luscious texture that enhances the sauce’s richness.
- Season and Adjust: Pulse the mixture until smooth but retaining a bit of texture. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust the lime juice or jalapeño amounts according to your preference for acidity and heat.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the sauce for 15 to 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld and enhance freshness. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs for the brightest flavor and best color.
- Taste and adjust the spice level as you blend for perfect heat control.
- Pulse rather than overblend to maintain a desirable texture and avoid a watery sauce.
- Prepare the sauce a day in advance to allow flavors to develop deeply.
- If the sauce is too thick, add water or additional olive oil sparingly to reach desired consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 0.8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Aji Verde Sauce, plant-based sauce, vegan sauce, spicy sauce, creamy herb sauce, lime sauce, cilantro sauce
