Môlho de Churrasco (Brazilian Barbecue Sauce)

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Brazilian barbecues are justly famous, and this sauce can be used for 
basting during the slow cooking process. Feel free to use it for 
American-style barbecues as well.

Ingredients

8 dried malagueta chiles, seeds and stems removed, crushed, or 
substitute piquin or Thai chiles
3 cups vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 small onion, minced
2 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
1 teaspoon crushed rosemary
2 teaspoons minced fresh basil leaves
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons minced fresh marjoram or oregano leaves

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a glass jar, cover, and shake well. Let stand 
for at least two hours to blend the flavors. Store in a refrigerator 
until ready to use.

Salsa Criolla (Creole Barbecue Sauce)

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There are many variations on this Creole sauce from Argentina, but this 
is my favorite. It is served with grilled, roasted, or barbecued meats, 
especially matambre. Variation: Add 1 bell pepper and 1 jalapeño, both 
seeded and minced.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons ají chile powder or substitute New Mexican red chile powder
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 onions, minced
3 ripe tomatoes, chopped fine
2 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
Salt to taste

Instructions

Combine the chile powder and the mustard with a little vinegar to make a 
paste. Add the rest of the vinegar and the olive oil and beat with a 
whisk. Add the remaining ingredients, stir well, and allow to sit for 2 
hours to blend the flavors.

Guasacaca (Barbecue Sauce from Venezuela)

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This is by far the most unusual barbecue sauce in Latin America. Because 
it contains fresh avocados, it must be used immediately and cannot be 
stored. Use it to marinate and/or baste grilled or barbecued shrimp, 
beef slices, or chicken.

Ingredients

1 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 habanero chile, seeds and stem removed, minced, or substitute 2 jalapeños
1 large ripe avocado, peeled and pit removed
2 cups peeled and chopped ripe tomatoes
1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar or substitute lime juice
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 tablespoons minced parsley (Italian preferred)
Salt to taste

Instructions

With a mortar and pestle, mash the onion, garlic, chile, avocado, and 
tomatoes into a paste (this may need to be done in batches). Add the 
remaining ingredients and blend well with a fork.

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.

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.