It’s prepared with aji amarillo paste, mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh cheese, green onions, lemon juice, and seasonings.

Quite recently, aji amarillo paste has become so popular that you can easily find it in Latin grocery stores and online all over the United States.Īji sauce, in particular, has its own fan base in Peruvian, Columbian, and Ecuadorian cuisines, where it’s savored as a condiment alongside grilled or roasted meat dishes, vegetables, and fried snacks. Aji Amarillo UsesĪmarillo chili is very popular in Peruvian cuisine where it’s either used fresh or in dried form. On the Scoville heat scale, these peppers clock in around 30000 to 50000 SHU. What Does the Aji Amarillo Taste Like?Īji amarillo is a hot pepper that doesn’t feel unbearingly hot to the palate due to the fact that it also has a fruity sweet flavor that’s reminiscent of berries, mangoes, and passion fruit. They are thick-skinned, smooth textured, and grow up to 5 inches in length. The unripe aji amarillo peppers are yellow, while they gradually attain a bright orange hue as they mature. “Aji” means “chili” and “amarillo” means “yellow”. “Aji amarillo” is a Spanish word literally meaning “yellow chili peppers”. Image Credit: Flickr user Neven Mrgan ( CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ) What does Aji Amarillo Look Like? It’s also regarded as an ornamental plant and is widely grown in South America to be exported to other regions, especially for aesthetic reasons. Today, aji amarillo is a staple pepper in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Chile.

Geographical evidence shows the origin of these chiles dates back 6000 years ago, to Peru and Mexico. Intriguingly, amarillo chili, together with red onion and cilantro, make up the Peruvian “holy trinity” of condiments.

Aji amarillo, in particular, has a strong association with Peruvian cuisine as well as the South American Andean region where it is used in a number of dishes, sauces, and condiments. What is Aji Amarillo?Īji amarillo ( Capsicum baccatum) belongs to the genus Capsicum, which is well known for its five domesticated species of chili peppers. Read on to learn more about aji amarillo, it’s uniquely spicy taste, and its culinary uses. Spicy, fruity, and vibrant, aji amarillo is a star ingredient from South America where it’s added to curries, stews, condiments, salsas, and hot sauces.

Taste of aji amarillo paste