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    My Colombian Recipes » Recipes » Appetizers and Snacks » Ají De Maní (peanut Hot Sauce)

    Ají de Maní (Peanut Hot sauce)

    Mar 31, 2025 · Modified: Mar 31, 2025 by Erica Dinho · 33 Comments

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    Ají de Maní is a traditional Colombian sauce and a must to serve empanadas de pipian. This delicious peanut hot sauce is also perfect to serve on top of grilled meats.

    Aji DeMani Pin

    What is Ají de Maní?

    Ají de Maní is a spicy sauce indigenous to the Popayan region of Colombia. It is a must to serve with Empanadas de Pipian and Tamales de Pipian. I personally love this delicious sauce with fresh vegetables or grilled chicken.

    My American husband eats this sauce as a dip with Ritz crackers and he says that it is really good. However you use it, it is a wonderful spicy sauce recipe.

    Aji De Mani IngredientsPin

    Ingredients You'll Need

    The printable recipe card with exact ingredients amounts and directions is below.

    Vegetables: Scallions, garlic and habanero pepper

    Oil: You can use vegetable, canola or corn oil

    Peanuts: I recommend using roasted peanuts to make this sauce.

    Herbs: Fresh cilantro or parsley

    Seasoning: Sazón with color or azafran, cumin, salt and pepper

    Water: To blend the sauce

    Aji De Many RecipePin

    How to Make Ají de Maní

    • Heat the oil in a sauce pan, add the scallions and cilantro. Cook for about 2 minutes. Transfer to a blender and add the rest of the ingredients.
    • Blend until smooth. Transfer the sauce to the sauce pan and cook over medium-low for 12 to 15 minutes. Let it cool and serve.

    How to Store

    Keep in a sealed container up to 3 days in the fridge. I don't recommend freezing this peanut sauce.

    Aji de ManiPin

    More Sauce Recipes to Try

    Ají Picante Recipe

    White Beans and Cilantro Dip

    Chimichurri Sauce

    Ají de ManíPin

    Ají de Maní Recipe (Peanut Hot sauce)

    Erica Dinho
    5 from 33 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 12 minutes mins
    Total Time 17 minutes mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine Colombian
    Servings 1 cup
    Calories 893 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 scallions finely chopped
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • ¾ cup roasted peanuts
    • ¼ cup fresh cilantro
    • 1 large garlic clove
    • ¼ teaspoon sazon goya with azafran achiote or color
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • Salt and pepper
    • 1 teaspoon habanero pepper chopped
    • 2 cups of water

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a sauce pan, add the scallions and cilantro. Cook for about 2 minutes. Transfer to a blender and add the rest of the ingredients.
    • Blend until smooth. Transfer the sauce to the sauce pan and cook over medium-low for 12 to 15 minutes. Let it cool and serve.

    Notes

     Refrigerate covered up to 1 week.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 893kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 32gFat: 81gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 34gMonounsaturated Fat: 31gTrans Fat: 0.2gSodium: 506mgPotassium: 983mgFiber: 11gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 569IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 159mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword Ají, aji de mani, Colombian Ajiaco, Colombian hot sauce
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mycolombianrecipes and tag #mycolombianrecipes!

    More Appetizers and Snacks Recipes

    Christmas AppetizersAguacate Relleno De Salmón (Avocado Filled With Salmon)Salsa De Ajo (Garlic Sauce)Colombian-Style Coconut Popsicles (Paletas De Coco)Dip De Arequipe Con Queso (Dulce De Leche And Cheese Dip)
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    About Erica Dinho

    My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

    Author Page →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tangled Noodle

      May 03, 2010 at 9:57 am

      5 stars
      This ají de maní sounds delicious! With the other sauces you've featured, I realize that there are so many wonderful sauces still to be discovered. I don't think I'll be content with the same old condiments any more! 😎

      Reply
    2. Baking is my Zen

      May 03, 2010 at 10:15 am

      5 stars
      I love sauces...thanks for this recipe!

      Reply
    3. Carla

      May 03, 2010 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      I like this sauce. Sounds like it would be best on pork or chicken for me. Funny how you referenced your American husband...Ritz crackers, that was cute. 😉

      Reply
    4. Sandi

      May 03, 2010 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      that looks really great!!

      Reply
    5. Kim

      May 03, 2010 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      So cute that your husband eats this on ritz crackers! I would love this on some grilled veggies or grilled chicken. Sounds delicious Erica.

      Reply
    6. Erica

      May 03, 2010 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      Thank you guys!

      Reply
      • PJ

        March 31, 2025 at 11:56 am

        5 stars
        Easy delicious sauce! Now to make the empanadas to go with it. Thank you for the years of delicious memories.

        Reply
    7. Ivy

      May 03, 2010 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      That looks really delicious and original!

      Reply
    8. Soma

      May 03, 2010 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      This sauce is a keeper. It sounds so good that I could dip my fingers in the bowl and lick them clean 🙂

      Reply
    9. 5 Star Foodie

      May 03, 2010 at 12:30 pm

      5 stars
      A wonderful sauce! My husband would love this too!

      Reply
    10. Anonymous

      May 03, 2010 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      ¡Hola! Erica.
      Una receta curiosa, me tomo nota pero aunque creo que tendré que sacrificarla un poco quitándole picante. Porque no lo tolero mucho.
      Un beso.

      Reply
    11. Joan Nova

      May 03, 2010 at 4:07 pm

      5 stars
      I imagine it would also be delicious spooned over rice or tablespoon or so in various stewed or braised meat/seafood dishes. It really has my mouth watering.

      Reply
    12. Erica

      May 03, 2010 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      I love all your comments! Thank you so much!

      Reply
    13. Lyndsey

      May 03, 2010 at 4:29 pm

      5 stars
      I'm going to remember this sauce, it looks fantastic! I don't know about eating it on a Ritz though....

      Reply
    14. Sandra G

      May 03, 2010 at 4:37 pm

      5 stars
      I want to try this Erica sounds really Yummy!

      Reply
    15. Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes

      May 03, 2010 at 4:37 pm

      5 stars
      Oh I am going to make this the next time I make empanadas! Or it would be good with grilled chicken like you said. Yum!

      Reply
    16. grace

      May 03, 2010 at 4:44 pm

      5 stars
      i can see ritz crackers as being a suitable vehicle for this sauce--right on!

      Reply
    17. Juliana

      May 03, 2010 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, this peanut sauce sure looks so tasty...love the ingredients in it...yummie!

      Reply
    18. Faith

      May 03, 2010 at 5:39 pm

      5 stars
      I agree, grilled chicken is a delicious use for this wondeful sauce!

      Reply
    19. panutts

      May 03, 2010 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      yumm looks very tempting,

      Reply
    20. MaryMoh

      May 04, 2010 at 1:49 am

      5 stars
      Wow...this must be very flavourful and delicious. I remember my mom used to cook peanut soup for us. She said it's very nutritious.

      Reply
    21. Oysterculture

      May 04, 2010 at 8:21 am

      5 stars
      This peanut sauce sounds amazing - I feel like you've been holding out on me, but you are always pulling out some incredible recipes. This one I know is sure to be a special treat.
      Aside from the Empanadas de Pipian and Tamales de Pipian is it a sauce that is used for specific foods?

      Reply
    22. Melanie

      May 04, 2010 at 10:31 am

      5 stars
      I love spicy peanut sauce--great for chicken--I want some now.

      Reply
    23. norma

      May 04, 2010 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      I would definitely use this on grilled veggies. Thanks for the recipe...it's been printed and saved.

      Reply
    24. Empar

      May 04, 2010 at 3:00 pm

      5 stars
      Hola! Erica
      No logro comprender porque no me reconoce al dejarte mensajes y siempre sale Anonimo. El comentario anterior Anonimo soy yo.
      Soy Empar de Creandoenlacocina.blogspot.
      A ver si por fín me reconoce como tal.
      Un beso.

      Reply
    25. tasteofbeirut

      May 04, 2010 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      Love that sauce Erica!
      I like the peanuts in a savory sauce so much better than in a sweet pastry. This will be a nice change from the tahini sauce i use usually!

      Reply
    26. Oysterculture

      May 04, 2010 at 9:23 pm

      5 stars
      Erica, the rest of my dinner is still cooking, and I hope to have enough of this sauce left to serve with it. I cannot help myself, I have to keep sampling - it is so good and tasty! What a delicious sauce. It is a keeper indeed. Thank you so much for sharing!!!!!

      Reply
    27. Belinda @zomppa

      May 04, 2010 at 11:21 pm

      5 stars
      With Ritz crackers? WOW! I can imagine this is good on anything - thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    28. Haley J.

      May 08, 2010 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, this looks exciting! I cannot wait to try it out - I love finding new uses for jabanero peppers!

      Reply
    29. Erica

      May 11, 2010 at 1:32 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
    30. Gado-Gado Gal

      June 28, 2010 at 12:18 am

      5 stars
      Erica,
      I think the logical thing to do now would be to provide a recipe for Tamales de Pipián! 🙂
      Misha

      Reply
    31. Dianna V

      September 05, 2012 at 2:55 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds like sopa de mani. But no one in my family has ever made this. I want to make this for my husband (american). When I cook a colombian dish he comes home he sniffs the air and says, "Oh yeah, this reminds me of when we were just dating." LOL

      Reply
    32. Niru

      October 06, 2015 at 4:58 pm

      5 stars
      I have eaten these in a tiny corner store in Popayan on the recommendation of my hostel owner. They were so good we kept buying more plates. That led me to search for this recipe.

      Reply

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    Hola and welcome to My Colombian Recipes. My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

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