Ingredients
Base
- 1large bunch coriander, finely chopped
- 6spring onions, finely sliced
- 2tomatoes, deseeded and finely diced
- 2hot chillies, finely chopped
Liquid
- 150 mlwater
- 3 tablespoonswhite vinegar
- juice of 2 limes
- 1 teaspoonsalt
Sometimes added
- 1small onion, finely diced
- 1hard-boiled egg, finely chopped
- a little sugar
Directions
- Chop the coriander finely, stalks included. Slice the spring onions as thinly as you can. Use both the white and the green parts.
- Deseed the tomatoes before dicing them. Dice the tomato flesh very small.
- Chop the chillies finely, seeds and all. Remove the seeds for a milder sauce. Combining it all takes a minute.
- Put all the chopped ingredients in a bowl. Add the water, the vinegar and the lime juice.
- Add the salt and stir it through. The sauce should be loose and pourable. Add more water if it is too thick. Adjust the vinegar and lime to taste.
- Add it just before serving if you use it. Cover the bowl and leave it for thirty minutes. Taste it again after resting and adjust the salt.
- Put it on the table in a bowl with a spoon. Everyone helps themselves as they eat. Make it fresh, because it takes only minutes.
Technique
- Aji in Colombia refers both to chillies and to this uncooked table sauce, which varies from region to region and from household to household.
- It is thinner than most salsas and is meant to be spooned rather than dipped into.
Substitutions
- Any hot fresh chilli works, and the amount is entirely a matter of taste.
- Flat-leaf parsley can stand in for some of the coriander for those who dislike it.
Variations
- Aji de huevo includes chopped hard-boiled egg.
- A version with more vinegar and no lime is made in some regions.
- Some households add finely chopped white onion soaked in vinegar.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ají?
Ají is a sauce & condiment from Colombia: cilantro-scallion chili salsa spooned over empanadas and grilled meats.
How long does Ají take to make?
Ají takes 15 minutes of preparation and none of cooking. The recipe makes about 400 ml. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Ají?
Yes, within limits. Any hot fresh chilli works, and the amount is entirely a matter of taste. Flat-leaf parsley can stand in for some of the coriander for those who dislike it.
What is the most important thing to get right in Ají?
It is thinner than most salsas and is meant to be spooned rather than dipped into.
