Aji Recipe

[akirlu]

I'm re-posting this from RASFF because I want to be able to mark it as a memory, and besides, it turned out to be a pretty damn' good aji, which is why I want to be able to reproduce it. What follows is my own invention based on smushing together two extant recipes, going hog wild with the garlic, and adding a dash of folkloric rumor (the beer) and cultural awareness (the lime).

Aji - Peruvian Hot Sauce

3/4 of a bunch of cilantro, stems removed
2-3 T olive oil
juice of one lime
6-8 cloves of garlic, peeled
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded
beer to taste

In a blender or food processor, pulse everything but the beer together until smooth. Add beer (or, if you prefer, more olive oil) until you get a pourable consistency you like. Transfer to a plastic squeeze bottle. Pour over most any Peruvian main dish, and refrigerate any extra for next time.

I added a bit too much beer, so it was runnier than I would like. Just olive oil gets you a thicker sauce. Apparently the Peruvians will also add a saltine or two to thicken the sauce, but I don't generally have saltines around the house.

It seems like one pepper doesn't really make the sauce hot enough. The recipe I was riffing off called for three, but authentic aji tends to be too hot for me, so next time I guess I'll try two. Next time, I think I'll also consider wearing gloves when handling the jalepenos to seed them. I don't know how many times I had to wash my hands to get rid of the burning pepper oil. Finally washing with baking soda seems to be what did the trick.


Next time I'll probably add even more garlic, and may consider the suggestion from one of the cannibalized recipes of adding a bit of shredded mozzarella.

Comments

[miramon.livejournal.com]

Try washing your hands in a bit of cooking oil afterwards (capsaicin is soluble in oil, not water). Then wash off the oil with soap/detergent.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

You know, I had a vague memory that this was true, so I tried a bit of olive oil on my hands, and then washing it off with detergent, and that didn't seem to work any better than just detergent. Possibly I didn't use enough oil, or agitate it well/long enough. I'll have to experiment. I just don't like spending the rest of the evening in mortal fear of absentmindedly rubbing my eyes.

[miramon.livejournal.com]

You should try changing your contact lenses after chopping chillies! The memory is still painful.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

oh. my. god. You know, I am already replete with impediments and excuses enough to keep me from getting around to wearing my contacts. I don't need more reasons not to wear them...

[alces2.livejournal.com]

Please also be careful in showering or bathing and touching other sensitive areas. Slicing up habaneros and touching sensitive areas is an unwise thing to do. I personally know this to be true. A tad beyond tingly.

[alces2.livejournal.com]

I am growing yellow ajis and thus will have to try this.

[alces2.livejournal.com]

this recipe.

[profundo-rosso.livejournal.com]

Ann: "Sounds like my normal cooking ingredients... 'cept I normally drink the beer."

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Well, I didn't think you meant rubbing your eyes or genitals with capsaicin, mate. It's probably well worth your time to add the peppers bit by bit until the sauce hits your prefered level of heat.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

In fact, unless one more than trebles the recipe, there should be plenty of beer leftover to drink. Thus, the beauty of cooking with beer.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Yep. Even bread usually leaves about half a bottle (if I need a full bottle, I just increase recipe until I have leftovers).

I'll have to pla with it, as I dislike the flavor of jalepenos.

We'll have to see how hot the small orange peppers are.

Then again, I'm the only one in the house who's likely to eat any.

TK

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Choice of hot peppers is largely up to you, as far as I can tell. A jalepeno is just what I used. If your housemates dislike heat, you can adjust the peppers accordingly; I'm just aiming to recreate what I've had in restaurants.