Turn up the flavor with this easy jalapeno lime sauce. Packed with flavors from fresh jalapenos, lime juice and garlic, this versatile sauce adds a bold kick to tacos, grilled meats, and more.
Quick to make and full of tangy, spicy flavors, it’s a condiment you definitely need to try making, especially if you love bold sauces! This kind of reminds me of my copycat cashew tamarind sauce recipe!
If you haven't guessed that already, trying flavor-packed condiment recipes are my thing. I always have a jar of mint coriander chutney in my refrigerator (it's an Indian household thing!), and over the last few months I've been trying a lot of sauces and condiments from different regions around the world.
I recently tried making Schug sauce - a beautiful aromatic Middle Eastern hot sauce, and it featured two key ingredients- jalapenos and garlic. All of us were absolutely blown away with its deliciousness, and I thought of capturing those flavors in a mellowed-down, silky smooth sauce. And that's when I tried this recipe.
Quick Look
- 🔪Prep time: 5 mins.
- ⏲️Cook time: 5 mins.
- 👪 Servings: 6.
- 📋Main ingredients: Jalapenos, onion, garlic, lime juice.
- ♨️Cooking method: Slice jalapenos and chop onion 🡢 soften in hot water 🡢 add to blender with remaining ingredients 🡢 blend until smooth.
- ⭐Difficulty: Easy.
- 🥣Serving ideas: As a dipping sauce with appetizers and snacks, or as a vinaigrette with a simple salad (like my lemon poppy seed dressing).
Jump to:
What's So Great About the Recipe?
- Bold and zesty: Fresh jalapenos and lime juice create a perfect mix of heat and tang.
- Dairy-free: Delightfully creamy, yet naturally vegan and dairy-free.
- Quick and easy: Blend a handful of ingredients for a sauce that's ready in just minutes. It's super easy- just like my olive oil pizza sauce.
- Versatile: Drizzle over tacos, dip veggies, or serve with grilled chicken and seafood.
Recipe Ingredients
Jalapenos: You'll need lots of fresh jalapenos! Get your hands on a big batch and use some of them for this sauce and reserve the others to make some dried jalapeno flakes or jalapeno infused salt.
Onion + garlic: The flavor builders. Use white onion here for that subtle sweetness, which nicely balances the heat from the jalapenos.
Lime: For the tanginess and acidity. Freshly squeezed lime juice is the best, but you can use the bottled version too if you can't find fresh lime.
Oil: Any regular cooking oil will work. I like sticking to olive oil here.
See recipe card for quantities.
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Substitutions & Variations
- Want to tone down the heat and tanginess of the sauce? Add a drizzle of honey (or sugar if you're vegan) into the mix. I love adding some of my homemade jalapeno honey here.
- Can't find lime juice? Add lemon juice or vinegar to lend tanginess to the sauce.
How to Make Jalapeno Lime Sauce
Step 1: Start by slicing and deseeding the jalapenos and chopping up the onion.
Step 2: Bring a pot of water up to a boil and add in the chopped onion and jalapenos. Take it off heat and let it cool down completely.
Step 3: Transfer the jalapenos and onion to a blender jar along with the garlic.
Step 4: Add the lime juice, salt, and oil and blend until you get a smooth, creamy sauce.
💭Top Tip
Pour the oil gradually in a thin stream into your blender jar. This will help the mixture emulsify and you'll get that creamy, saucy consistency you're looking for.
How to Store Leftover Jalapeno Lime Sauce
You can store your leftover spicy jalapeno sauce in the refrigerator for up to a week. Use a clean glass jar or an airtight container to preserve its freshness, and use a dry spoon to spoon it out whenever you want to.
These jars aren't just for yogurt and oatmeal. They're also perfect for homemade jams, pickles, sauces, smoothies, desserts, and even DIY crafts. Whether you're preserving, presenting, or storing, their design fits seamlessly into any setting.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Wear gloves while deseeding the jalapenos. Make sure you remove the white 'rib' on the inside as well- that's the portion that packs in the most amount of heat.
- Use less jalapenos if you're worried about the sauce being too spicy, and add some fresh cilantro as well to get that perfect bright green color you're looking for- I used it when I made my jalapeno mayo too!
- Make sure the jalapenos you're using are firm, fresh and unblemished. This is super important, especially if you're planning on storing the sauce for later.
- Depending on the kind of blender you're using, you may get a smooth consistency, or a slightly coarse, chunky sauce. It tastes delicious either way!
- If the sauce seems too runny, add half an avocado into the mix. This will help reduce the heat too! Use the other half to make avocado butter spread or garlic avocado spread.
- Don't have an avocado? Add half of an English cucumber into the blender along with everything else.
How to Use Jalapeno Lime Sauce
This spicy jalapeno lime sauce is the perfect condiment to team up with your French fries, hash browns and other fried or baked appetizers. You can also drizzle it over a simple salad to lend it an extra kick of heat.
If the sauce is nice and thick, you can use it as a marinade for your grilled meats as well. I love featuring this sauce along with my favorite cashew pesto, fruity raspberry salsa and a finger-licking delicious lemon sour cream sauce whenever I'm entertaining.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Cooking them is actually a must. Raw onion and jalapenos can be really really spicy, and cooking them down softens them and mellows down their flavor, making them perfect for the sauce.
If the sauce has turned too spicy, team it up with half a cup of whisked Greek yogurt. You can also just mix it with some mayo or sour cream if you want to!
More Sauce Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this jalapeno lime sauce or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Jalapeno Lime Sauce
Ingredients
- 10 jalapenos
- 1 white onion
- 1 lime juiced
- 2-4 garlic
- 1 cup oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Start by slicing and deseeding the jalapenos and chopping up the onion.
- Bring a pot of water up to a boil and add in the chopped onion and jalapenos. Take it off heat and let it cool down completely.
- Transfer the jalapenos and onion to a blender jar along with the garlic.
- Add the lime juice, salt, and oil and blend until you get a smooth, creamy sauce.
Notes
- Wear gloves while deseeding the jalapenos. Make sure you remove the white 'rib' on the inside as well- that's the portion that packs in the most amount of heat.
- Use less jalapenos if you're worried about the sauce being too spicy, and add some fresh cilantro as well to get that perfect bright green color you're looking for- I used it when I made my jalapeno mayo too!
- Make sure the jalapenos you're using are firm, fresh and unblemished. This is super important, especially if you're planning on storing the sauce for later.
- Depending on the kind of blender you're using, you may get a smooth consistency, or a slightly coarse, chunky sauce. It tastes delicious either way!
- If the sauce seems too runny, add half an avocado into the mix. This will help reduce the heat too! Use the other half to make avocado butter spread or garlic avocado spread.
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