Traditional Colombian Aji Recipe: spicy, zesty and so easy to make! Perfect with Colombian Empanadas, soups, stews and pretty much every other dish where you want to add a little bit of spice!
Colombian Aji Recipe
This is my go-to Colombian Aji Recipe, I always make a double batch whenever I make my Colombian Empanadas because I just inhale it but it really goes with any dish!
Every family makes it a bit different, some use different peppers to make it spicy or different amounts of each ingredient but this is the one aji recipe I truly love!
This Aji Picante is:
- Fresh, zesty and spicy!
- Ready in 5 minutes.
- Authentic and traditional.
- Customizable: choose the spiciness!
- Easily storable for up to a week (gets more flavorful!).
- Naturally gluten-free and vegan.
Colombian Aji Ingredients
Tomato. Some people mince it, dice it or grate it, I like grating mine because it gives you a super smooth texture!
Green onion. Finely minced.
Lime, freshly squeezed.
Vinegar, white or even apple cider!
Oil, just plain vegetable or sunflower oil.
Cilantro. The main ingredient hehe! I know some don’t love cilantro but Colombian aji is all about the cilantro, without cilantro it just won’t taste traditional.
Bird’s Eye Chili which is Aji Pajarito in Colombia or another hot pepper or hot sauce. I recommend Bird’s Eye Chili if you want a super traditional option but you can also use a red habanero, jalapeño (this is smokier though) or a hot sauce of your choice (I like tabasco).
How to make Colombian Aji
STEP ONE: Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and mix.
STEP TWO: Chill covered in the refrigerator and enjoy the next day for best flavor or after a few hours. The more the aji chills in the refrigerator, the best it’ll taste so I like making aji one day ahead of time and let it marinate. It keeps well for about 1 week.
HAPPY COOKING!! I hope you'll love this Authentic Colombian Aji Recipe or Aji Pique as much as I do!
PS: Please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if you make it! Your comments make my day!! You can also tag me on Instagram @itsdamnspicy 🌈💘
More Colombian Recipes you’ll love:
- Colombian Pineapple Sauce
- Colombian Empanadas
- Colombian Hot Dogs
- or check out all my Colombian Recipes!
Colombian Aji Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 small minced tomato (or grated, remove the jelly parts with seeds)
- 4 tbsp (20 g) minced green onions
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) freshly-squeezed lime juice
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar)
- 3 tbsp (3 g) minced fresh cilantro
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil (or sunflower or canola)
- 1 minced bird's eye chili (aji pajarito) (or red habanero, jalapeño or your favorite hot sauce, I like 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and mix.
- Chill covered in the refrigerator and enjoy the next day for best flavor or after a few hours. The more the aji chills in the refrigerator, the best it'll taste so I like making aji one day ahead of time and let it marinate. It keeps well for about 1 week.
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