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

Salsa de Mani (Hot and Spicy Peanut Sauce)

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This is a commonly made sauce served over potatoes in Ecuador. The 
amount of chile in the recipe can be adjusted to be mild or wild, 
however you wish. This side dish would add also spice to any meat or 
seafood dish for a truly exotic dinner.

Ingredients

1/2 cup peanuts
1/4 cup cream
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup peanut oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons ají chile powder, or substitute piquin or cayenne
1 small onion, peeled and quartered
1/2 cup grated goat or feta cheese, crumbled

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend at 
high speed for a few seconds, or until smooth. Place in a pan and heat 
over low heat for five minutes, stirring constantly. Do not boil the 
sauce. Serve the sauce over hot cooked potatoes.

Môlho Malagueta (Malagueta Sauce)

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Here is a basic Brazilian hot sauce featuring malagueta chiles. It is 
simple, powerful, and can be added to any recipe (except desserts) to 
spice it up. Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

1 cup fresh or dried malagueta chiles, or substitute tabascos or 
piquins, stems removed, left whole
1 wine bottle (750 ml.), washed in boiling water and dried, with cork
1 cup vinegar
Olive oil to fill bottle

Instructions

Place the chiles in the wine bottle, add the vinegar and olive oil, and 
stopper the bottle securely. Place the bottle in the refrigerator and 
let the chiles steep for at least 2 weeks, shaking the bottle whenever 
you think about it. Shake well before using.

Môlho de Pimenta e Limao (Hot Pepper Sauce with Lime)

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This hot sauce from Pernambuco is commonly served in a small dish at 
Brazilian meals to spice up such dishes as feijoada and seafood stews. 
It features the malagueta pepper, that close relative of the tabasco 
pepper. Variation: Make a paste by pureeing the peppers, garlic, onion, 
and salt in a blender. Add the lemon or lime juice and stir well.

Ingredients

6 fresh malagueta chiles, or substitute piquins, seeds and stems 
removed, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup lemon or lime juice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients and allow to sit at room temperature for 2 hours 
to blend all the flavors.