Salsa de Ají (Ecuadorean Fresh Chile Sauce)

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This is a basic but classic Latin American salsa recipe collected in 
Ecuador. Although this recipe calls for the use of an electric blender, 
one can follow the traditional method of using a mortar and pestle. 
Ecuadorians are very fond of putting beans in their salsa. The most 
popular beans are the lupini, which are large white beans about the size 
of lima beans. Just add the cooked beans directly to the salsa. Use this 
salsa as a dip for chips or as a topping for grilled meats.

Ingredients

2 large tomatoes, seeds removed, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
4 large, fresh ají chiles, seeds and stems removed, chopped or 
substitute yellow wax hot or jalapeño
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste

Instructions

Combine the tomatoes, onion, and cilantro in a bowl.
Place the chiles, water, and 3 tablespoons of the tomato and onion 
mixture in a blender or processor and puree until smooth.
Add the chile puree to the remaining tomato mixture and mix well. Salt 
to taste.

Salsa Picante de Peru (Peruvian Hot Salsa)

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This recipe is traditionally served with anticuchos (grilled beef heart) 
and corn on the cob, but it's a great accompaniment for any grilled meat.

Ingredients

3 fresh ají chiles, seeds and stems removed, minced, or substitute red 
serranos or jalapeños
1/2 medium onion, minced
2 green onions, minced including the greens
4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons wine vinegar

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and let sit for at least an hour to 
blend the flavors.

Pebre (Chilean Hot Salsa)

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Here is the classic hot sauce of Chile, one that is served with grilled 
or roasted meats. The type of chiles used varies considerably, depending 
on availability and the cook's preference.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/3 cup water
3 fresh yellow or red rocoto chiles, seeds and stems removed, minced, or 
substitute 3 jalapeños or 1 habanero
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup minced cilantro
1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano
Salt to taste

Instructions

Combine the olive oil, vinegar, and water in a bowl and beat with a 
whisk. Add the remaining ingredients, mix well, and let stand for 2 
hours to blend the flavors.

Miguel’s Peruvian Ají Sauce

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I grow a lot of Peruvian ají chiles in my garden every year, and I 
always put aside a large bag of them to take to Miguel, our computer 
wizard friend from Peru. On my second or third trip to Miguel's (it was 
a bumper harvest of chiles), he was having a late lunch with this ají 
sauce over his rice.

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil
4 or more fresh ají chiles, seeds and stems removed, minced, or 
substitute jalapeños
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Instructions

Heat the oil in a small skillet, and when it's hot, add the chiles and 
the garlic, lower the heat, and stir constantly to avoid burning the 
garlic. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Simmer for ten minutes 
and then serve warm over rice or pasta.

Ocopa Sauce Arequepa-Style

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From Arequipa, Peru, one of the hottest (chile-wise) cities in Latin 
America, comes this unusual, delicious sauce that is traditionally 
served over boiled and sliced potatoes that are garnished with lettuce, 
olives, and hardboiled egg slices. Try it over fried fish as well.

Ingredients

8 dried yellow ají chiles, seeds and stems removed, soaked in water to 
soften and pureed, or substitute 6 New Mexican red chiles
3 saltine-type crackers, crushed
1/4 cup walnuts, ground in a spice mill
1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup crushed onion
1 clove garlic, mashed
2 hard-boiled eggs, minced
12 cooked shrimps, peeled and mashed
Milk
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the chiles, crackers, walnuts, cheese, 
vegetable oil, onion, garlic, eggs, and shrimps and mix well to make a 
thick paste. Drizzle in the milk as needed and, using a potato masher, 
transform the paste into a thick sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Yield: About 2 1/2 cups