Description
This Empanada Dipping Sauce is a vibrant, smoky, and slightly spicy sauce that perfectly complements savory beef empanadas. Roasting the tomatoes and garlic brings out deep flavors, while the bright lime juice and fresh green onions add a refreshing finish. This versatile sauce can also be served with corn chips, vegetable sticks, or bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 medium tomatoes (125g/4oz each), cut in half and core removed
- 2 garlic cloves, whole and peeled
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Spices & Flavorings
- 1/8 tsp ground cumin
- 1/8 tsp ground cayenne or pure chili (not US chili powder mix)
- 1/8 tsp white sugar
- 1/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tsp lime juice (substitute with lemon juice or vinegar if preferred)
Fresh Garnish
- 2 tbsp sliced green onion
Serving Suggestion
- Beef empanadas
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F) or 200°C if using a fan-assisted oven to prepare for roasting the vegetables.
- Roast Tomatoes and Garlic: Toss the halved tomatoes and whole garlic cloves with the extra virgin olive oil in a mixing bowl until evenly coated. Place the tomatoes cut side up on a baking tray and roast for 20 minutes to develop a roasted flavor and soften them.
- Continue Roasting Garlic: After 20 minutes, add the garlic cloves to the baking tray with the tomatoes and roast everything together for an additional 15 minutes until the tomato edges are lightly browned and garlic is tender. Remove the tray from the oven and let the ingredients cool slightly while remaining on the tray.
- Blend the Sauce: Transfer the roasted tomatoes and garlic to a container fitting a stick blender. Add the ground cumin, cayenne or pure chili powder, white sugar, cooking/kosher salt, and lime juice. Blend the mixture until smooth, approximately 5 seconds. Add the sliced green onion and pulse lightly until finely chopped and incorporated for texture.
- Serve: Serve the finished dipping sauce alongside beef empanadas, or use it as a flavorful dip for corn chips, vegetable sticks, or bread for a versatile accompaniment.
Notes
- The roasting step enhances the depth of flavors by caramelizing the naturally sweet tomatoes and mellowing the garlic.
- If you don’t have a stick blender, a food processor or regular blender will also work fine to achieve a smooth sauce.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper amount to control the heat level according to your taste preferences.
- You can substitute lime juice with freshly squeezed lemon juice or a light vinegar if lime is unavailable.
- This sauce is best served fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
