Serrano crema is my take on the authentic Peruvian green sauce called Aji Verde, the bright green sauce served alongside roasted chicken in restaurants, and it’s delicious! This sauce is bold, and it adds the perfect spice to roasted chicken, grilled meat, vegetables, salads, and tacos! A drizzle of this yummy green sauce elevates any dish to the next level.
Serrano Crema – Peruvian Green Sauce
Equipment
- Food Processor or Blender
Ingredients
- 3-4 serrano chilis, roughly chopped
- 1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- ½ cup yogurt, full-fat
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 1 lime, juiced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, coarse ground, to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper to serve.
Nutrition
Check out our web story for serrano crema.
Serrano crema is delicious. Still, it’s not the authentic sauce you will find in Peru. I want to get my hands on aji Amarillo (a hot yellow pepper) or rocoto (a hot red pepper) and huacatay (black mint) to make the real deal. I’ll report back here when I do.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
- Serrano Chili: Serrano chilies are a favorite of mine! In the summertime, we have serrano chili plants growing in our backyard. Even though I love them, serrano chilis may create a crema that’s too spicy for some. For a milder sauce, use jalapeños. In addition, you can remove the chili membrane and seeds before dicing; this will lower the spice level as well.
- Cilantro: Cilantro balances the heat and lends the sauce its bright green color.
- Garlic: I suggest using three cloves, but don’t let my recipe tell you how much garlic to use – go for it.
- Yogurt: Yogurt thickens the serrano crema.
- Sour Cream: Sour cream creates a smooth texture and lends a sour note that compliments and doesn’t overwhelm the other ingredients.
- Lime Juice: I use fresh lime juice, about one whole lime.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil works alongside the yogurt and sour cream to create the perfect texture for the sauce. To use this crema as a dressing, increase the amount of olive oil to thin it out.
- Salt + Pepper: Season the crema according to your preference.
HOW TO MAKE SERRANO CREMA
STEP 1
Add all of the ingredients to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
STEP 2
Taste and season with salt and pepper to serve.
Craving a sauce, dip, or salsa?
Try one of these tasty favorites from the Jamil Ghar.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT SERRANO CREMA
Is the crema spicy?
I think it’s just right, but then again, I love a little spice! However, I realize that not everyone handles spice in the same way, and serrano chilies may be too spicy for some. For this reason, I suggest using jalapeños with the membranes and stems removed for a milder sauce.
How can I use serrano crema?
- The most obvious choice is to serve serrano crema with our Peruvian roasted chicken or blackened mahi-mahi.
- Though it’s unlike traditional Indian raita, I can know, with certainty, it pairs well with tandoori chicken and Instant Pot chicken biryani.
- You can build a burger with cheese, avocado, thinly sliced serrano chilies, and crisp bacon- finish the burger with this sauce.
- Pour serrano crema on street tacos, fish tacos, beef tacos, or shrimp tacos in place of salsa.
- Top a chopped salad or chickpea dishes, like chana masala or chaat masala.
RJ
Thursday 19th of May 2022
Such a nice flavor and is pretty easy to make. I love having this sauce with baked chicken.
Kristine Corey
Friday 25th of February 2022
Very goood, highly recommend this recipe !!
Tressa - Jamil Ghar Team
Friday 25th of February 2022
You're awesome for taking a second to comment; I'm glad you liked it!