Ají picante is a spicy sauce from my hometown Antioquia. We keep it in the refrigerator all year round. It is an absolute must for Colombian empanadas and it is the perfect sauce to flavor soups, stews and the perfect dipping sauce for Patacones. Growing up in my house we used it in almost every dish my mom made and it is my dad’s favorite condiment.
INGREDIENTS
1 seeded small red habanero pepper
½ cup white vinegar
¼ cup water
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
½ cup chopped scallions
½ cup chopped tomato
DIRECTIONS
1. Put the vinegar, water and habanero pepper in a blender for 2 minutes.
2. Place the remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir to mix. Add the vinegar and habanero mix to the bowl and mix well.
3. Pour in a glass jar and cover. Refrigerate up to 10 days.
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Chris De La Rosa
on Apr 18th, 2009
@ 4:47 PM:
Looks like something I’ll have to try. very similar to some of the hot sauces we have in the Caribbean.
5 Star Foodie
on Apr 19th, 2009
@ 3:15 PM:
This is exactly what my husband would have wanted today – he was asking for something really spicy – this sauce looks excellent!
Erica
on Apr 19th, 2009
@ 7:48 PM:
This sauce is really spicy, but it is delicious.
Try it!
Mindy
on Apr 24th, 2009
@ 4:37 AM:
This looks great…I’ll have to try it!
Sarah
on Apr 25th, 2009
@ 11:41 AM:
love hot sauces, would this be considered salsa verde? Coriander is one of my favorite herbs
Lori Lynn
on Apr 28th, 2009
@ 12:55 PM:
I must make this!
LL
carlos
on Sep 9th, 2009
@ 12:20 PM:
Hey at last I found the Colombian aji recepie. This is the ral deal.
Many thanks
BAKING is my ZeN
on Sep 9th, 2009
@ 10:25 PM:
My sister-in-law makes this. She is from Columbia. I LOVE THIS!!!
Erica
on Oct 2nd, 2009
@ 10:39 AM:
Thank you everyone for your comments!
Pam Daza
on Nov 4th, 2009
@ 3:49 PM:
Thanks soooo much for these recipes!! I am a gringo married to a wonderful Colombiano!
This sauce has become a staple in our home. My in-laws absolutely loved it too!! Thanks for affording me the opportunity to cook genuine Colombian food for my family! 
Pam Daza
on Nov 4th, 2009
@ 3:50 PM:
by the way….. I’ve wanted the recipe for this sauce for a looooonng time!!
Erica
on Nov 4th, 2009
@ 4:26 PM:
Thank you for the nice comment, Pam!
Maria Mabel
on Nov 19th, 2009
@ 9:30 AM:
Erica,
I am glad I found your website. Thank you for taking your time to add links to the products, I am going to cook the empanadas tomorrow, sounds like a better alternative than to pay $2 per each at my local restaurant.
Two requests: Recipe for “Papa Chorreada”, and adding a “Print Version” to the recipes.
Erica
on Nov 19th, 2009
@ 10:11 AM:
Maria Mabel- I have the papas chorreadas recipe in my list and this is the link: http://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/2009/02/potatoes-with-cheese-sauce-papas_11.html
I am working in the print version.
Thank you for your comment!
danielle
on Jan 12th, 2010
@ 10:17 PM:
my boyfriend is Colombian and I went to visit him in the summer. i have been looking for an aji recipe for a long time. im so glad i finally found one!
Rocio
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 9:16 PM:
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe, I too has been wanting to know how to do it, I’m Colombian and my husband is american but he loves empanadas with the aji sauce!
Jason H.
on Mar 20th, 2010
@ 9:38 PM:
Thanks, Erica! I travel with a gentleman from Colombia periodically and we invariably end up at a Colombian restaurant (if we can find one) while we’re on the road. I’ve become addicted to the Bandeja Paisa, but it’s this sauce that I’ve been trying to get for a few years. Of the places we’ve visited, no one is willing to share the recipe. I’d give you a huge hug if I could, thank you!!!
Sara
on Mar 25th, 2010
@ 3:13 PM:
Is there a mild version?
Erica
on Mar 25th, 2010
@ 3:44 PM:
Sara- Add less hot pepper.
alexa
on Jul 15th, 2010
@ 9:56 PM:
oh my gosh thank u so much for these wonderful recipes… im married to a very demanding colombian and you have truly helped me alot. you must be a wonderful cook erica! take care and thank you soooooo much
your awesome!
Samantha
on Jul 21st, 2010
@ 2:29 PM:
Thanks so much for all of your wonderful recipes Erica! My boyfriend is the happiest Colombian you will ever meet now. He is from Bogota. Of course, I cant cook it exactly like he used to have of his mothers cooking in Colombia, but still the same, he says it is amazingly precise! He tells me how much it reminds him of home and its all thanks to you! Thanks so much for giving us the true Colombian recipes!
arlene
on Aug 10th, 2010
@ 12:22 AM:
thank you – this is perfect aji! my husband lived in colombia for 5yrs (i visited over a dozen times) and this reminded me EXACTLY of the aji i loved and enjoyed so much!
i made it 3 times this week!!!