Ají Cuencano

Name: Ají Cuencano
Yield: About 2 cups
Ingredients: 14 ounces of tamarillo pulp, thawed, or 12 tamarillos, peeled and puréed; 2 red jalapeños (or chiles of your choice); 1 tablespoon lime juice; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/4 cup vegetable or olive oil; 2 tablespoons of finely chopped white onion; 3 sprigs cilantro, finely chopped; Kosher salt, to taste

By Francis Lam

Rating: 4(13)
Comments: Read comments

Tomate de árbol (also called tamarillo) is an unusual ingredient that tastes like a savory, tomatolike passion fruit. Available frozen or as pulp at many Latino or South American grocers, it is blended in the mountain city of Cuenca into an easy vinaigrettelike sauce with chiles, onion, cilantro and oil. Use it as a hot sauce, a dip or an accompaniment to meat or fish.

Featured in: Small Country, Many Tastes

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Ingredients

Yield:About 2 cups

14ounces of tamarillo pulp, thawed, or 12 tamarillos, peeled and puréed
2red jalapeños (or chiles of your choice)
1tablespoon lime juice
1teaspoon sugar
¼cup vegetable or olive oil
2tablespoons of finely chopped white onion
3sprigs cilantro, finely chopped
Kosher salt, to taste

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
In a blender or food processor, blend the tamarillo, jalapeno, lime and sugar, then blend in the oil until smooth. Stir in the onion and cilantro, and salt to taste.

Ratings

4 out of 5

13 user ratings

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Comments

Craig7 years ago

I live in a food-obsessed West Coast city, and I couldn't find the tamarillo ingredient. I substituted persimmon. Seemed to work

Tom Alberti7 years ago

Maybe a combination of Tomatoes & Passion fruits will do the trick...(Tamarillo substitute)

Craig7 years ago

I live in a food-obsessed West Coast city, and I couldn't find the tamarillo ingredient. I substituted persimmon. Seemed to work

Sue3 years ago

Persimmons are a totally different flavor -- no doubt delicious here, but very different. In my experience across multiple cities (most far less food-obsessed than Portland or Seattle), when I've not had access to a South American grocer, tamarillo are at least sometimes available in good produce markets. Check in winter.

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