Esta receta también está disponible en español. Ají de Lulo (Colombian Hot Sauce with Lulo) is another recipe inspired by the recept trip to the Colombian Amazon. We stayed in a hotel named La Ceiba (Amazonas) and it is 200% recommended if you are planning to travel there. The food, also vegetarian and vegan friendly, was delicious. Every lunch and dinner came with an ají de lulo, of which I will share my own version in this post.
Ají in Colombia
Ají (ají picante) is Colombia’s version of a hot sauce. Throughout Colombia there are many versions of it. For example non spicy ají made with sweet pepper, ají with egg, ají with tropical fruit, and ají de aguacate. Although exact ingredients differ, they have in common that you make them with a (spicy) pepper, cilantro, onion and limejuice and/or vinegar. Find my recipe for traditional spicy ají here.
If you are looking for more recipes of Colombian sauces, click here.
Ají de Lulo (Colombian Hot Sauce with Lulo)
The most important element of this hot sauce is, apart from the spicy peppers, the lulo. Lulo is citrus fruit popular in Colombia. It looks a bit like a small orange but it has a more sour taste. The pulp has a green color, and you can use it to make a popular drink called a Lulada. For this ají you can use any spicy pepper you like. I used some small and round ajís I brought from the Amazon (see picture).
Besides spicy peppers and lulo you will need yellow sweet pepper, lime juice, a bit of sugar or panela, chopped green onions and cilantro. The ají de lulo is spicy, sweet-sour, and has a tropical tastes that reminds of Caribbean hot sauces because of the addition of lulo. This easy and fast recipe will brighten up any meal. You can serve it for example with vegan empanadas or cheese/spinach empanadas.
Do you love Colombian food? Click here for more vegetarian recipes!
Ají de Lulo (Colombian Hot Sauce with Lulo)
Ingredients
- 2 lulo fruits, only the pulp, cut finely
- 1 spicy/chili pepper of your choice, chopped finely leave the seeds out when using a very spicy pepper
- 2 tbsp sweet yellow pepper, chopped finely
- brown sugar or panela to taste, about a teaspoon
- lime juice, to taste
- finely chopped green onion, to taste
- chopped cilantro, to taste
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Taste and adjust amounts of sugar, lime juice, cilantro, onion and salt accordingly. Leave the ají for 15-30 minutes for the flavors to mix well.Serve in a small serving bowl at the table, with for example empanadas, soups, arepas, or other warm dishes.
