Best 20 Aji Recipes

PERUVIAN AJI-STYLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Place romaine lettuce, cilantro, green onions, mayonnaise, jalapeno peppers, garlic, salt, and black pepper into a blender; blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.

AJI (COLOMBIAN SALSA)

Steps:

• Combine tomato, cilantro, onion, jalapeno pepper, and garlic in a food processor. Add olive oil, lime juice, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and salt; pulse until a coarse paste forms. Mix in green onions.

AJI DE GALLINA

Steps:

• Place chicken breasts, onion, carrot, and 2 cloves garlic in a large saucepan, pour in 2 quarts of water and slowly bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Skim off the foam which forms on top, then cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate and allow to cool. Strain the resulting chicken stock, discarding the vegetables.
• Pour evaporated milk and 1/2 cup chicken stock into the bowl of a blender. Add bread cubes and puree until smooth. Add Parmesan cheese and walnuts; puree until smooth. Shred the cooled chicken and discard the bones.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in minced garlic and minced onion; cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in shredded chicken and aji amarillo until heated through. Pour in bread puree and cook until hot, stirring frequently. Add more chicken stock if needed to keep from getting too thick. Season with turmeric and simmer for 5 minutes more.
• Serve garnished with hard-cooked egg slices and sprinkled with kalamata olives.

PERUVIAN AJI VERDE

Steps:

• Blend cilantro, jalapenos, lime juice, garlic, mayonnaise, olive oil, salt, and pepper together in a food processor or blender. Blend in more mayonnaise or oil to adjust thickness if desired.

COLOMBIAN AJI

Steps:

• In a blender, combine jalapenos, water, vinegar, lemon juice, green onions, cilantro and salt. Blend until smooth; refrigerate until ready to serve.

PERUVIAN AJI DE GALLINA

Steps:

• Fill a pot with water and add chicken breasts. Bring to a boil. Dissolve chicken bouillon in 1 cup hot water; add to the chicken when water is boiling. Continue to boil until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, about 20 minutes. Place chicken on a plate to cool; shred with 2 forks. Reserve 2 cups cooking liquid and then empty the pot.
• Place the same pot over medium-high heat and add enough oil to coat the bottom. Saute onion in the hot oil until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook, 1 to 2 minutes. Add aji paste, turmeric, cumin, salt, and pepper; saute for 2 minutes. Turn off heat.
• Combine bread, evaporated milk, walnuts, and Parmesan cheese in an electric blender. Blend until smooth; add the seasoned mixture from the pot to the blender and blend until smooth once more. Mixture should be bright yellow.
• Place the pot over medium-low heat and add yellow mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes; this will thicken quickly. Add reserved chicken liquid in small increments until mixture loosens some. Add shredded chicken and more liquid as needed until you get a thick, soup-like texture. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

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.

BEER-MARINATED FLANK STEAK WITH AJI AND GUACAMOLE

Steps:

• Using sharp knife, lightly score flank steaks about 1/8 inch deep on both sides in a crisscross pattern at 1/2-inch intervals. Place steaks in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle steaks on both sides with oregano and cumin and generous amount of coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle olive oil over both sides of steaks, rubbing oil and spices into meat. Add green onions, beer, and Worcestershire sauce, turning steaks several times to coat both sides. Cover and chill at least 3 hours, turning occasionally. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush grill rack lightly with oil. Grill steaks to desired doneness, 3 to 4 minutes total per side for medium-rare, turning steaks 1/4 turn after 1 1/2 minutes to form crisscross grill marks, if desired. Transfer steaks to cutting board; let rest 5 minutes. Thinly slice steaks across grain. Transfer to platter and serve with Aji Sauce and Colombian Guacamole.

AJI (ECUADOREAN HOT SAUCE)

Steps:

• Combine the water, peppers and garlic in the blender and blend well.
• Strain the liquid into a bowl and discard any solids.
• Add the balance of the ingredients and mix well.
• Store in the refrigerator.

AJI AMARILLO-PINEAPPLE SALSA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Let stand 2 hours, tossing occasionally. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• *Available at Latin American markets.

PERUVIAN AJI AMARILLO CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Blend aji peppers, evaporated milk, saltine crackers, queso fresco cheese, and salt in a blender until thick and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. For a thicker sauce, add 1 or 2 more crackers if desired.

PUERTO RICAN-STYLE AJí DULCE SAUCE (AJILIMóJILI)

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process to a coarse emerald-green sauce. The sauce will keep in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for 2 to 3 days.

CHICKEN IN CHILE SAUCE (AJí DE GALLINA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
• If using quail eggs, cover with cold water in a very small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, 5 minutes. Rinse eggs under cold water to stop cooking, then peel.
• Soak bread in milk until softened, then mash with a fork.
• Cook onion and garlic in 1 1/2 tablespoons oil with turmeric and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Stir in chile paste and bread mixture and simmer, stirring occasionally, until very thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in broth and cheese and simmer 1 minute. Carefully transfer to a blender with walnuts and blend until very smooth, about 1 minute (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer sauce to a medium saucepan and keep warm, covered, over very low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Pat chicken dry, then season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot, then brown half of chicken, skin side down first, turning once, about 8 minutes total. Transfer, skin side up, to a 4-sided sheet pan. Pour off oil from skillet and wipe clean, then brown remaining chicken in remaining tablespoon oil in same manner.
• Roast chicken in oven until just cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Halve quail eggs lengthwise.
• Spoon some of sauce onto a large platter, then arrange chicken on top. Garnish with quail eggs and serve with remaining sauce on the side.
• What to drink:
• Concha y Toro Terrunyo Casablanca Valley Sauvignon Blanc '07

AJI AMARILLO PASTE

Steps:

• Boil chilis in a saucepan with water for about 5 minutes; drain and repeat 3 times.
• Cut seed and devein chilies; you can also peel some to reduce the heat, if desired.
• Blend with oil until you get a creamy paste.
• NOTE: If using the dried mirasol chile, you will probably need to add water to achieve a creamy paste.

PERUVIAN AJI SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Add all ingredients and blend until smooth.
• Use peppers, garlic, and salt to taste. Experiment as necessary, you can't go wrong. (For mild version, use 1/4 to 1/2 jalepeno pepper and remove seeds).
• I recommend allowing to refrigerate a bit before serving to set and let flavors mix.
• Serve with bread or chips.

AJI DE GALLINA (CHICKEN IN A SPICY SAUCE)

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large pot and fill with water to halfway up sides of bird. Add leek, onion, carrot, tomato, salt, peppercorns and bay leaves. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes, or until chicken is done. Remove chicken and place in a bowl until cool enough to remove the meat from the bones and shred into bitesize pieces. Meanwhile, strain broth and reserve 4 cups.
• Soak the bread in the milk. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and saute for 1 more minute. Add softened bread and aji or chile powder, and cook for about 1 minute, stirring. (For a creamier sauce, place onion-bread mixture in a blender, puree until smooth and return to skillet.) Add 2 cups of the chicken stock and continue cooking until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken and simmer for 5 to 8 more minutes, adding more stock if needed. Stir in the walnuts and Parmesan cheese, and simmer gently for another 5 minutes, or until thickened slightly. To serve, spoon chicken and sauce onto a serving platter and surround with potatoes and eggs. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

AJI CHILE SALSA

Steps:

• Soak 1/3 cup finely diced white onion in ice water 15 minutes; drain. Mix with 1/2 cup each finely diced tomato and chopped cilantro, 1 each seeded minced aji chile and garlic clove, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon lime juice and 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil. Thin with water. Season with salt.

SANCOCHO WITH AJI

Steps:

• For the aji:
• Place the cilantro, scallions, chiles, onions, lime juice and 3/4 cup water in a small glass bowl or jar with a tight fitting lid.
• Add the tomato if using, season with salt, to taste, and stir all of the ingredients together.
• Cover and set the aji aside at room temperature for several hours to allow the flavors to release into the liquid, then refrigerate until serving.
• Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat for 1 minute.
• Add the onions and garlic and cook until they're soft and transparent, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, and thyme and continue to cook 5 more minutes.
• Add the chicken and the beef ribs and cook until the tomatoes have disintegrated, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and skimming the foam from the top of the broth when necessary.
• Add the green plantains, cilantro, and chicken stock and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the plantains are tender, 30 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside.
• Add the potatoes, pumpkin, ripe plantains, yucca and corn and simmer, uncovered, until both are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Remove the cilantro and the bay leaves and return the chicken to the pot to re-heat it.
• To serve, arrange a piece of chicken, some beef, plantains, and a few pieces of yucca and potatoes on each plate.
• Serve the broth in a small bowl, and the aji sauce on the side, along with a bowl of rice, corn, some avocados and arepas or tortillas on separate plates.

AJI SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine jalapeño chiles, green onions, sweet onion, and cilantro in processor; puree until paste forms, scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula several times. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and process until mixture is blended but some texture still remains. Transfer to small bowl. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and more vinegar to taste, if desired. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

AJI PICANTE (COLUMBIAN HOT SAUCE)

Steps:

• Put the vinegar, water and habanero pepper in a blender for 2 minutes.
• Place the remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir to mix. Add the vinegar and habanero mix to the bowl and mix well.
• Pour in a glass jar and cover. Refrigerate up to 10 days.