Green Sauce Keto: Colombian Style

Colombian green sauce, also known as Ají Verde Sauce, is a popular condiment in Colombia. It is often served with salted potatoes, empanadas, tamales, soups, and other local dishes. The sauce is typically made with jalapeños, cilantro, green onions, and lime juice, giving it a vibrant green colour and a spicy kick. Some recipes include garlic powder, onion powder, white vinegar, mustard, cumin, and salt. The sauce is usually refrigerated before serving to allow the flavours to meld. While the traditional recipe may not be keto-friendly due to the presence of carbohydrates in certain ingredients, modifications can be made to align with keto guidelines. For instance, substituting pine nuts with hemp hearts in pesto-style sauces can reduce carbohydrate content while retaining healthy fats.

Colombian Ají Verde Sauce ingredients

Colombian Ají Verde Sauce is a spicy, tangy, and bright green sauce that is perfect for adding a kick to various dishes. The ingredients used in this sauce can vary depending on the region and personal preference, but here is a list of common ingredients used in Colombian Ají Verde Sauce:

• Cilantro: Finely chop a bunch of fresh cilantro leaves, as they provide a vibrant green colour and a refreshing flavour to the sauce.
• Jalapeños: Use medium-sized jalapeños with the seeds and membranes removed. You can adjust the spice level by adding some reserved seeds later if desired.
• Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a tangy and bright flavour to the sauce.
• Salt: A pinch of fine sea salt enhances the flavours and brings out the freshness of the ingredients.
• Garlic: Roughly chopped garlic cloves contribute to the pungent and bold flavour of the sauce.
• Cheese: Grated Cotija or Parmesan cheese adds a salty and complex flavour to the sauce.
• White Vinegar: This ingredient is commonly used in Colombian Ají Verde Sauce to add a tangy and acidic taste.
• Green Onions: Finely chop the white parts of the green onions to add a mild onion flavour without affecting the green colour of the sauce.
• Water: Water is used to adjust the consistency of the sauce to your preference.

These ingredients are typically blended together in a food processor or blender until the sauce is green and mostly smooth. You can adjust the consistency and flavour by blending in olive oil, and the sauce can be customised to your preferred spice level by adding more or less jalapeño.

Keto Salsa Verde ingredients

Salsa verde, a Mexican condiment, issection that is perfect for the keto diet due to its low-carb ingredients. Here is a list of ingredients that you can use to make your own keto salsa verde:

• Tomatillos: The base of your salsa verde. Look for fresh tomatillos that are firm and bright green, or opt for canned or frozen ones.
• Chili Peppers: For a spicy kick, use habanero, jalapeno, or serrano peppers. You can adjust the heat by using milder chili peppers or reducing the amount.
• Onion: You can use fresh onion, chopped finely, or dried onion flakes for convenience.
• Cilantro: Adds a fresh, herbal flavour to the salsa.
• Lime Juice: Brings a tangy twist to your salsa.
• White Vinegar: This ingredient will add a sharp, tangy flavour to your sauce.
• Salt and Pepper: Season to taste.

All you need to do is roast the tomatillos and chili peppers, blend them with the remaining ingredients, and season to taste! You can adjust the spice level and consistency to your preference. This keto salsa verde is perfect as a condiment for eggs, enchiladas, or even barbecues.

Colombian fast-food sauces

Colombian fast food is loved for its variety of sauces, which are added to burgers and hot dogs. These sauces include traditional condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard, as well as more unique options.

One of the most famous sauces is the "pink sauce" or Salsa Rosada, which is a combination of mayonnaise, ketchup, garlic powder, and lemon juice. Another popular option is the pineapple sauce, which is made by blending crushed pineapple with pineapple preserves and can be thickened with cornstarch. This sauce is often served with Colombian hamburgers and hot dogs.

Another well-loved sauce is the BBQ ketchup, a simple twist on regular ketchup made by mixing in BBQ sauce and brown sugar. For those who enjoy a kick of spice, the Colombian Ají Verde (Green Hot Sauce) is a great choice. This sauce is commonly served with salted potatoes and features jalapeños, cilantro, green onions, lime juice, white vinegar, and salt.

In addition to these, Colombia also offers an intriguing "tartar sauce," which is actually a pineapple-flavored mayonnaise with carrots and cilantro. Other sauces worth mentioning include the garlic mayo, avocado sauce, cilantro sauce, fruit sauces like pineapple and blackberry, and the ever-mysterious house sauce, which is always a closely guarded secret.

Keto-friendly green sauce ingredients

There are many keto-friendly sauces that you can make to add some flavour to your meals. Here are some ingredients that you can use to make delicious green keto sauces:

Keto Salsa Verde

This sauce is made from roasted tomatillos and chili peppers. It also includes onion flakes, cilantro, salt, and pepper to taste. You can also add garlic if you like. This sauce is very keto-friendly due to its low-carb ingredients.

Colombian Ají Verde Sauce

This sauce typically includes jalapeño peppers, cilantro, green onions, lime juice, white vinegar, and salt. You can adjust the consistency by adding water. This sauce gets its green colour from the cilantro and green onions.

Keto Power Breakfast with Green Sauce

This sauce is a twist on traditional pesto, made with baby spinach, arugula, parsley, garlic cloves, hemp hearts, and olive oil. It has a nutty, cheesy flavour and is packed with healthy fats and nutrients.

Other Keto-Friendly Sauce Ingredients

Other keto-friendly sauce ingredients that you can use as inspiration include:

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Mustard
• Cumin
• Mayo
• Sugar-free ketchup
• BBQ sauce
• Brown sugar
• Pineapple sauce
• Orange juice
• Grated carrot
• Parsley
• Horseradish
• Dijon mustard
• Chives
• Shallots
• Fresh thyme
• Cayenne
• Blue cheese
• Cream
• Lemon
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Hemp hearts
• Baby kale
• Basil
• Asparagus
• Eggs
• Avocado oil
• Cheese
• And many more!

Feel free to experiment with different combinations of ingredients to find your favourite keto-friendly green sauce!

Colombian hot sauce recipes

Colombian hot sauces come in a variety of recipes, with each region and family having its own variation. However, they are typically spicy and served with empanadas, soups, beans, stews, rice, and more. Here are some popular Colombian hot sauce recipes:

Colombian Ají Verde Sauce

This sauce is commonly served with salted potatoes, barbecues, empanadas, and stews. It gets its vibrant green colour from cilantro and green onions.

Ingredients:

• 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
• 2 green onions (white part only), finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• Lime juice
• Water, to desired consistency
• Salt, to taste

Instructions:

• In a small bowl, add the jalapeños, cilantro, and green onion.
• Add the lime juice, white vinegar, and salt, mixing well.
• Gradually add water until you achieve the desired consistency.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Ají Picante (Colombian Hot Sauce)

A traditional spicy sauce from the Antioquia region, this sauce is a must for Colombian empanadas and soups. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for salted potatoes and plantains.

Ingredients:

• 1 small hot pepper or 1 red habanero pepper, seeded
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup chopped tomato

Instructions:

• Put the vinegar and habanero pepper in a blender for 2 minutes.
• In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Add the vinegar and habanero mixture to the bowl and stir.
• Pour the sauce into a glass jar, cover, and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

5-Minute Ají (Colombian-Style Salsa)

This salsa can be made mild or hot and is typically served with tortilla chips, meat, potatoes, rice, or eggs. It can also be used as a marinade for meat.

Ingredients:

• 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup pickled sliced jalapeños
• 1/2 cup jalapeño pickle liquid (or white vinegar)
• 1 bunch of cilantro, washed and de-stemmed
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions:

• Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse about 10 times until the ingredients are roughly chopped to the same size.
• Store the salsa in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Fast-Food Style Green Sauce

This sauce is often served with salted potatoes and is a popular condiment for burgers and hot dogs in Colombia.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 bunch cilantro (about 1 cup)

Instructions:

• Place the mayonnaise, garlic powder, white vinegar, mustard, cumin, salt, and cilantro in a food processor and blend well.
• Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Frequently asked questions