Colombian Ají is a spicy traditional sauce. Every family and region has its own variation. This is my recipe for Ají Picante and it's a must to serve with Colombian Empanadas.
What is Colombian Ají picante or Ají Piqué?
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 papas saladas and patacones.
Like many traditional Colombian recipes, there are many variations depending on the region and cook. This is my mom's ají recipe and the way my whole family makes it. I like my sauce with a lot of liquid, but you can adjust the amount if you prefer yours with more herbs.
Growing up in my house we used it in almost every dish my mom made and it is my dad’s favorite condiment. It’s easy to make and you can customize your ají picante as mild or as hot as you prefer. You really can’t go wrong with this recipe!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make this Colombian Ají
Hot Pepper: Here in United States I use red habanero, but you can use your favorite hot pepper. In Colombia this sauce is made with ají pajarito a long hot red pepper.
Check the recipe card below for the complete recipe, instructions and step by step video.
More Colombian Sauces to Try:
Avocado Sauce (Salsa de Aguacate)
Avocado Hot sauce (Ají de Aguacate)
Colombian Ají Picante Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 seeded small hot pepper or 1 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
Instructions
- Put the vinegar 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 5 days.
Sara
Is there a mild version?
Erica
Sara- Add less hot pepper.
yicel calzadilla
would jalapeño work instead?
Jason H.
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!!!
Rocio
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!
danielle
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!
Maria Mabel
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
Maria Mabel- I have the papas chorreadas recipe in my list and this is the link: https://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/potatoes-with-cheese-sauce-papas/
I am working in the print version.
Thank you for your comment!
Pam Daza
by the way..... I've wanted the recipe for this sauce for a looooonng time!!
Pam Daza
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! 🙂
Erica
Thank you for the nice comment, Pam!
Erica
Thank you everyone for your comments!
Natalia
I was doing research all day and i like your recipes better. I have 3 questions how do i know if the oil is hot enough ?and do i have to change the oil when i make alot of empanadas? I want to make them crispy what is the best oil?
BAKING is my ZeN
My sister-in-law makes this. She is from Columbia. I LOVE THIS!!!
Jaunchito
It is Colombia
Not Columbia !!!!
Jejejeeje
Dr. Mark D. Woodhull
This is familiar to me as it is common in Cali or Valle de Cauca where I grew up. My wife is from Bogota and she hates it. Too much vinegar for her Cundinamarca princess taste. She prefers hogao.
Anonymous
Colombia!!
Claudia
Colombia!!
carlos
Hey at last I found the Colombian aji recepie. This is the ral deal.
Many thanks
Linda
Love that sauce so happy to have found it...
Lori Lynn
I must make this!
LL
Sarah
love hot sauces, would this be considered salsa verde? Coriander is one of my favorite herbs
Lucia F Unger
No salsa verde is made with tontillo, and it's a Mexican sauce.
I am Colombian, but the aji we made only had onions, garlic, jalapeno and cilantro. Water, vinegar, lemon and salt.
Dolores Montague
I make mine with 2 habaneros.
Neil
And by lemon she means lime. lol
In regard to the recipe I should’ve stuck with one teaspoon of sugar instead of two.
Neil
Oops I doubled the recipe and it’s a bit sweet so yes I’ll cut back on the sugar next time. Still delicious.
TomaQueToma
It's tomatillo, not tontillo, maybe you confused beacause you are tonta.
Colombia is huge country, for sure they make many different aji depending on region.
I think the recipe is great.
Mindy
This looks great...I'll have to try it!
Erica
This sauce is really spicy, but it is delicious.
Try it!
5 Star Foodie
This is exactly what my husband would have wanted today - he was asking for something really spicy - this sauce looks excellent!
freda baldwin
omg its is very nice ,serve it on meat or mashed potatoes,hamburgers almost everything ,its good
AL
Try Scorpion Pepper in here next time
If your husband likes hot
Please be sparing thou
A drop will do !
Chris De La Rosa
Looks like something I'll have to try. very similar to some of the hot sauces we have in the Caribbean.
Todd
Why are you giving a recipe 5 stars without even making it?! The purpose of recipe reviews are to actually make the recipe and then rate it so others get an idea how the recipe turned out. Instead you“think” it sounds good and give it 5 stars. ..
Anonymous
Calm down.
Jake
Tranquilo.
It's not a big deal.
Guadalupe Reyes
Quedó delicioso, perfecto para acompañar las empanadas gracias por la receta , es bien picante, pero la receta lo dice AJI PICANTE