FOOD NEWS
Ají Verde Is The Peruvian Green Sauce That'll Boost Your Roast Chicken
BY BRIAN UDALL
The Peruvian sauce ají verde is by turns spicy, creamy, citric, and bright, making it a great addition to any meal, particularly roast chicken.
Ají verde is made with ají amarillo, meaning “yellow chile.” This pepper has a Scoville spiciness rating of 30,000-50,000, similar to cayenne, so it’s not for the faint of heart.
Ají verde really shines when paired with grilled or roast chicken, like the traditional Peruvian chicken dish pollo a la brasa, which is served with ají verde on the side.
The sauce is made with the special yellow chiles, huacatay (black mint), mayonnaise, cilantro, lime, and garlic, which are all blended together into a creamy sauce.
You can also customize ají verde. Try substituting in jalapeños as the main pepper, or add olive oil, Greek yogurt, other herbs like basil, cotija cheese, or scallions.