Inspired by our local Mexican restaurant’s recipe, this green taco sauce is loaded with jalapeño flavors and complimenting ingredients.
The spicy jalapeno green taco sauce is an excellent taste enhancer and one of my go-to recipes on taco nights.
This spicy green taco sauce is packed with the punch. Technically speaking, the heat from the jalapeño and the sourness from the lime juice make this recipe incredible.
The spicy green taco sauce is a mouth-watering delight that will surely excite your taste buds.
The ingredients
This delicious light green taco sauce is similar to the Taco Bell jalapeño sauce but is not precisely the same.
However, this sauce is also delicious - and it's such a simple, painless recipe that it's ready for the table in under 15 minutes!
Plus, it's so effortless(like this jalapeno cilantro dip).
Jalapeños. Jalapeños are in season now, so the local stores and the farmer's market are loaded with these deliciously spicy peppers.
Not to mention that It's the perfect time to enjoy them, including this green taco sauce.
I've used fresh jalapeños for this recipe, but you could also use frozen or roasted jalapeños.
Vegetable oil. Vegetable oil is a critical ingredient in this sauce, lending both body and a smooth texture. It also helps to neutralize the sharp taste of jalapeño and lime juice.
You can choose olive or canola oil as an alternative, depending on your preferences.
Red onion. Red onions have a slightly more robust flavor, which works great in this recipe. On the other hand, white or yellow onion can also be used in this spicy taco sauce.
Garlic powder. A teaspoon of garlic powder gives your green taco sauce the perfect amount of richness and flavor.
Lime juice. It is one of the critical ingredients. Not only does it add a zing and a tangy taste, but it also provides the wholesome flavor that makes the sauce so irresistible.
It brings up all the other flavors and provides a delicious tartness that will surely please your palate.
As an alternative, lemon juice is also a good choice in this green spicy sauce.
Cilantro. This herb gives the dish a refreshing flavor and a beautiful green color, perfect for St. Patrick's Day!
I have kept it to a minimum so that it doesn't dominate the flavors of jalapeño, but you can always add more if you love cilantro.
How to make Green taco sauce
Bring water to a rolling boil.
When boiling water, cut the jalapeños and add them to the pot. Boil for 5-7 minutes, or until they turn soft.
Using tongs, remove jalapenos from the boiling water. And place them in the blender jar.
Add garlic powder, vegetable oil, chopped onion, lime juice, salt, and cilantro.
And pulse, until it becomes smooth.
Transfer it to a serving bowl. And enjoy by drizzling over the taco as a top layer.
Leftover storage ideas
Refrigerate. The leftovers are suitable to store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Store them in the air-sealed container for the best results.
Freeze. If you want to store the sauce for a more extended period, transfer it to a freezer-safe container as soon as it is made. Store for up to three months in the freezer.
To thaw. leave them overnight in the refrigerator. As a quick option, gently microwave in intervals of 30 seconds.
FAQ
You may reheat until it turns to room temperature/slightly warm. You need not cook it through as it may spoil the texture.
Yes, the roasted jalapeños give this green taco sauce a smoky flavor(And our family loves this variation as well). Furthermore, feel free to use the grilled jalapeños or the frozen jalapeños.
If you worry about the heat, remove that white membrane and the jalapeño seeds before blending it.
What to serve with this spicy taco sauce?
Drizzling over the taco is the ultimate choice for making this spicy green sauce more enchanting.
However, it also plays a versatile role other than serving tacos. Let’s see a few of them below.
Burgers and sandwiches. Spread over the side of burgers and sandwiches and wait for the delight it brings on, like these Bombay sandwich, Masala sandwich, grilled veggie sandwich.
Salads. Use as a dressing for simple, plain salads like spiced kale salad, mango cucumber salad, fresco salad.
Meat/seafood. Serve as a glaze or as a side for dishes like Hawaiian garlic shrimp, shrimp appetizer, Trinidad pepper shrimp.
Drinks. Stir a teaspoon in lemonade or your favorite cocktail, and make the evenings more hot. Jalapeno lemonade.
As a dip. This serves as an excellent dip for appetizers like stuffed cherry peppers, mini peppers stuffed with cream cheese, stuffed Shishito peppers.
Recipe variations
Make it super spicy. Increase the quantity of jalapeno, or add in habanero to make your preference.
Make it mild. To make the sauce less heat, remove the seeds and the pith.
Add in more flavors. Add in fresh ginger, Cajun seasoning, and mint leaves. You may add any one of these or all of them together. Adjust the quantity of these ingredients, as each has intense flavors.
Recommended tools for making this recipe
Blender. This kitchen workhorse will blend your ingredients into a vibrant, green taco sauce.
Silicon spatula: To scrape every bit of your precious green sauce. We don't waste in the kitchen!
Glass jar. To store your taco sauce. Remember, presentation is just as important. Plus, it's eco-friendly!
Printable recipe card
Green taco sauce
Ingredients
- 4 jalapenos
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ¼ cup onion chopped
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cilantro
Instructions
- Add water to a pot and bring it to rolling boil.
- Then add jalapenos.
- In medium heat, cook until they are for 5-7 minutes or until soft.
- Remove the jalapenos from the water.
- In the blender jar add cooked jalapeno, garlic powder, vegetable oil, chopped onion, lime juice, salt, and cilantro
- Blend until the mixture turns smooth in texture.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and serve as a drizzle or as dip.
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