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When I moved back home to Minneapolis in 2020, I knew that one of the things I would miss about living in the San Francisco Bay Area was the abundance of incredible Mexican food. You’re never more than a few minutes from a great taqueria, which is almost guaranteed to have a cold bar filled with an array of handmade salsas and pickled vegetables.
Luckily, there are several wonderful Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities, though they aren’t located quite as close to home. So when the craving strikes for homemade tacos or quesadillas, I turn to this spicy Jalapeño Sauce from Trader Joe’s.
After trying it on a whim a couple of years ago, it quickly became an essential condiment that I keep on hand to liven up a wide variety of dishes, or even my favorite Mexican take-out meals.
Why I Love Trader Joe’s Jalapeño Sauce
Made mainly of jalapeños, this (vegan!) green sauce is an essential topping for burrito bowls, quesadillas, tamales, and even scrambled eggs in my house. I use it so much that I always have at least one backup bottle on hand. The flavor is bright, acidic, and spicy without overwhelming whatever you serve it with.
It’s an excellent imitation of the spicy salsa verde served at my favorite Bay Area taquerias. The silky smooth texture is creamy, and, though I eat dairy, this sauce is a great way to add a bit of richness to a dish without resorting to cheese or sour cream.
Simply Recipes / Maren Ellingboe King
How I Use This Jalapeño Sauce
The wonderful thing about this sauce is its versatility! Though my husband and I use it often on dishes with Mexican flavors, it works well with many different kinds of dishes. One favorite application is drizzled over Trader Joe’s-inspired burrito bowls, using canned black beans, frozen brown rice, Mexican-Style Roasted Corn, carnitas, and a quick-pickled cabbage salad.
On busy weeknights, it’s a delicious topping for quick naan pizzas topped with shredded rotisserie chicken, roasted corn, mozzarella, and cilantro. For a fast, protein-packed breakfast, I pair it with avocado toast and a fried egg. I also love it with chicken shawarma or falafel sandwiches, as it adds a welcome kick. It even makes a good dipping sauce for tortilla chips, though I like it even better swirled into a bowl of homemade guacamole.
The Jalapeño Sauce does have a bit of a kick, but even my husband, who is generally not a fan of spicy foods, has declared it a must-have condiment, and it’s a nice contrast to peppery vinegar-based hot sauces like Cholula and Tabasco. At $3.49 per bottle, it’s well worth the shelf space in your refrigerator—and if you’re like me, once you try it, you’ll always need to have some on hand!
