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.
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.
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
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.
More Sauce Recipes to Try
Ají de Maní Recipe (Peanut Hot sauce)
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.
grace
i can see ritz crackers as being a suitable vehicle for this sauce--right on!
Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes
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!
Sandra G
I want to try this Erica sounds really Yummy!
Lyndsey
I'm going to remember this sauce, it looks fantastic! I don't know about eating it on a Ritz though....
Erica
I love all your comments! Thank you so much!
Joan Nova
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.
Anonymous
¡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.
5 Star Foodie
A wonderful sauce! My husband would love this too!
Soma
This sauce is a keeper. It sounds so good that I could dip my fingers in the bowl and lick them clean 🙂
Ivy
That looks really delicious and original!
Erica
Thank you guys!
PJ
Easy delicious sauce! Now to make the empanadas to go with it. Thank you for the years of delicious memories.
Kim
So cute that your husband eats this on ritz crackers! I would love this on some grilled veggies or grilled chicken. Sounds delicious Erica.
Sandi
that looks really great!!
Carla
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. 😉
Baking is my Zen
I love sauces...thanks for this recipe!
Tangled Noodle
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! 😎