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How to make Chipotle Mayo (aka Mexican Secret Sauce) – a fast and easy 5-minute sauce that everyone should know about, to give meals a huge BURST of flavor! Vegan-adaptable, gluten-free. Includes a video.

Simple Chipotle Mayo ( aka Mexican Secret Sauce) - a fast and easy 5 minute-sauce to give meals a huge BURST of flavor! Vegan adaptable & Gluten-free. #chipotlemayo #tacosauce #spicymayo #mayo #mexicanmayo Your self love is a medicine for the earth.  ~ Yung Pueblo

This vegan-adaptable, Chipotle Mayo (or Mexican Secret Sauce)- is probably not a huge secret anymore … but to some, it may be the difference between a dish that is bland and unexciting to something fantastically delicious!  Use it as a taco sauce, over burrito bowls,tacos, burgers,  or with most any Mexican- inspired recipes!

And the best thing is, this Chipotle Mayo only takes FIVE  minutes to make, and I’m pretty sure you already have the simple ingredients on hand. It keeps in the fridge for weeks and comes in handy quite frequently around here. The best-tasting taco sauce, ever!

Watch how to make Chipotle Mayo! | 30-sec video

Ingredients in Chipotle Mayo:

Simple Chipotle Mayo ( aka Mexican Secret Sauce) - a fast and easy 5 minute-sauce to give meals a huge BURST of flavor! Vegan adaptable & Gluten-free. #chipotlemayo #tacosauce #spicymayo #mayo #mexicanmayo

How to make Chipotle Mayo?

  • Combine the ingredients in a bowl and whisk away!
  • Taste, adjust heat and lime to your liking!
  • Keeps 7-10 days in the fridge.

Chipotle Mayo- aka Mexican Secret Sauce. A simple sauce that everyone needs to know about! It will give meals a huge burst of flavor with little effort! vegan adaptable and Gluten free! | www.feastingathome.com

Simply stir the ingredients together. You can make it spicy, or you can keep it mild. Your choice!

Just whisk it up….and it’s done!

Taste, add more chipotle, or keep it mild.

Simple Chipotle Mayo ( aka Mexican Secret Sauce) - a fast and easy 5 minute-sauce to give meals a huge BURST of flavor! Vegan adaptable & Gluten-free. #chipotlemayo #tacosauce #spicymayo #mayo #mexicanmayo

What to use Chipotle Mayo with:

Variations: 

This Chipotle Mayo  is one we use in our catering business. At home, I make a healthier vegan version (with silken tofu– see notes in recipe) and keep it in a squirt bottle ready to drizzle lightly over tacos, burgers, fish,corn on the cob, nachos, enchiladas, pretty much anything that needs a burst of flavor.

If you are vegan, make this with  Veganaise or silken tofu. A flavor booster for sure!

If you would like to keep the Chipotle Mayo for longer than a week, substitue a little vinegar for the lime juice, which will help preserve.

Chipotle Mayo ( aka Mexican Secret Sauce) - a simple 5 minute sauce that everyone should know about to give meals a huge BURST of flavor! Vegan adaptable,GF

How easy is that?

On the home front: I’ve been meaning to tell you a little story, but until now the words have not come. It’s why I picked this quote. I trust that those of you who need to hear this story will find it, and those who don’t can simply skip to the recipe.

When my mother, Lea, turned 80, she left my father.

He had gone on his yearly month-long trip to Egypt, and with the help of her good friend, she packed up her all belongings and moved out of the house where I grew up, where she had lived for 35 years. Imagine how difficult this would be at any age, and then imagine it at the age of 80.

When he returned she was gone. They were married for 42 years.

My father, like all of us, had his good qualities and his flaws. He could treat her terribly, become angry, volatile,  tearing her down emotionally, but could also be very loving in his own way. Which made leaving him very difficult.  A complicated man, heavily influenced by his culture. He could not see any areas for improvement within himself, and would not even consider “working on the marriage” with her. She stayed with him purely out of duty, guilt, religion and out of “what would people think?”. 

Growing up, I found myself wishing desperately she would leave him, because I could see how the stress of being in that relationship took a toll on her, not just emotionally, but physically. She was constantly on edge, stressed, sad, isolated. She began to have serious heart problems. It wasn’t until she was 80, that she had the strength and courage to leave.

And then she lived 3 more years…

Believe me when I tell you, even though the rest of her time here was short, they were the happiest, most incredible, three years of her life!  She was free and light and bubbling with joy!

Effervescent. I had never witnessed this before!  She completely transformed. All her worry lines faded. It was like a huge weight was lifted. Her heart became light, and love just poured out of her entire being. Truly remarkable.

Looking back, I believe her lesson in this life was to experience love fully, and specifically, to experience self-love.  She had always put everyone else first, serving others in her beautiful faithful way -as a nurse, midwife (in Nigeria), faithful friend, nurturing mother, sister, and wife.  But a day came when she listened to her soul’s wish- and chose the path of self-love and healing. This did not mean she stopped loving my father. It just meant she couldn’t be married to him for one more day.

Such a beautiful lesson to give her only daughter, who at the time was also struggling in her first marriage.

I just wanted to share this with you, because I know that marriage can be one of the hardest things we experience in this life. I once read somewhere, “Relationships are hard. Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.” Sometimes the lesson is not always  “making our bed and lying in it”,  and being miserable for the rest of our days. If a partner is willing to work on marriage then, by all means, work on it!  But if a partner is unwilling to work on it, you don’t have to continue down the same dead-end road until your dying days. And chances are, any step that you take towards self-love and self-healing will teach your children (and perhaps partner) to do the same. It was the most precious gift she gave me.

Sometimes the lesson is learning to love ourselves enough to take care of our soul, make healthy, unsettling choices, and take courageous action. This is not the easy road, change always feels so much scarier than living with unhappiness.  But I just wanted to share that a different path is indeed possible. And that if my mother could do this, at 80, so can we, if need be. And that it is never too late.

You may also like:

Ok, enjoy the recipe for Chipotle Mayo! Share what you think in the comments below. 🙂

xoxo

Sylvia

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Chipotle Mayo- a mexican secret sauce that will give dishes a burst of flavor. Vegan adaptable, GF!

Chipotle Mayo (Mexican Secret Sauce)

★★★★★ 4.8 from 67 reviews
Print Recipe

Description

Chipotle Mayo– a smoky spicy zesty Mexican Secret Sauce for tacos, tosadas, enchilada’s or most any mexican food. Can be made vegan with Veganaise or use Silken Tofu (see notes).  Gluten Free.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  1. 1/2 cup mayo (or use sour cream, vegan mayo “Veganaise” – or make with silken tofu, see notes below)
  2. 1 tablespoon water
  3. 1 –2 teaspoons lime juice (to taste)
  4. 1/8 teaspoon salt, more to taste
  5. 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  6. 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  7. 1/8– 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle powder – you can also use one canned chipotle pepper (blending it with the mayo in a blender) or just stir in a teaspoon or two of the spicy smoky adobo sauce from the can. Start conservatively, adding more to taste. I prefer the Adobo Sauce!

Instructions

  1. If making with Mayo or Veganaise, place all ingredients in a small bowl. Be conservative with the chipotle ( you can always add more).  Whisk until smooth with a fork or tiny whisk. ( See notes below if making with silken tofu.)
  2. Taste, adjust heat and spices, adding more spices if you like. ( I usually add more salt and chili powder to taste.)
  3. Store in a small jar in the fridge, or in a squirt bottle for easy use.
  4. Keeps up to 2 weeks.

Notes

VEGAN VERSION: If making a vegan version with silken tofu– replace the mayo with ½ a package silken tofu ( about 6 ounces or 165 grams), leave out the water and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Increase salt to ½-¾ teaspoon, add ¼ teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (in addition to the lime) and place all in a food processor, blending until smooth and creamy. Use a canned chipotle pepper ( or half of one!) or  just a teaspoon or two of the adobo sauce from the can, for the best flavor. Adjust salt, heat and lime.

I use Mori-Nu Organic Silken Tofu– Firm or Extra Firm Tofu – ½ of a 12.5 ounce package.  

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 teaspoons
  • Calories: 64
  • Sugar: 0.1 g
  • Sodium: 103.6 mg
  • Fat: 6.9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0.3 g
  • Fiber: 0.1 g
  • Protein: 0.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 3.9 mg

Keywords: chipotle mayo, how to make chipotle mayo, taco sauce, vegan chipotle mayo, chipotle mayo recipe, best chipotle mayo, Mexican secrete sauce, taco sauce, taco sauce recipe

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Comments

  1. Excellent sauce on burritos. Used adobe sauce as u suggested and turned out great. Will be making a big bottle of this next time!!Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply

  2. This was fantastic with two tsp of lime juice and 3 tsp of adobo sauce from the canned adobo peppers. Literally perfect.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  3. This sauce is delicious! I wanted to make it again and couldn’t find the recipe so tried another one. It just wasn’t as tasty… I was determined to find this recipe again, and I am thankful that I did. It’s a keeper! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  4. Okay this literally is the best Chipotle mayo ever! And here’s how I know. My husband who absolutely hates mayonnaise or anything white and creamy loved this. I told him he had to try it and I knew he would love it and he absolutely did. I made BLTs and added this Chipotle mail and he wants it on his sandwich now too. Usually he eats his dry with no sauce and he’s so excited to have found something he likes. Thanks so much for this recipe. (Also I made this with vegan mayo) SO yummy!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  5. Made this with chipotle sauce and sour cream. i think I added too much chipotle so added mayo still too chipotle then added ketchup Bing Bing Bing we have a winner. Thanks

    Reply

  10. Definitely going to make this sauce for wild-caught Alaskan fish tacos this week. I LOVE smoked paprika, and also adobo sauce. (Wish I could buy just the sauce!) And Georgia peach salsa – a match made in heaven.
    Now, about your mother…whew! What an inspiration. A beautiful story of stoic sustenance followed by a shining transformation. Like a butterfly, Lea was reborn and lived her best life. I love that she had the courage to do that, and you got to see her do so. Thank you for sharing her/your story. We learn from each other.

    Reply

  11. Dear Sylvia
    “On the home front” was an emotional and inspirational read
    Thank you ❤️
    and for all the wonderful recipes..I’m truly addicted to cooking new and exciting dishes for my family and friends, especially with my homegrown produce
    It’s never too late to try something new!
    Elaine😊

    Reply

    2. I couldn’t agree more Elaine. I too was rocked by your courage.
      Sylvia, I always turn to your recipes first and as I love to cook new recipes when entertaining I know your are always a winner🤩

      Reply

  13. Wow, I came here just to read up about chipotle, but your story about your mother was very touching. So glad she got to live those last 3 years in happiness. Thankyou for the great recipe and an amazing story

    Reply

  14. Great recipe and can’t wait to try it.
    Thank you for sharing.
    I can relate to your story because I lived like your mom for 33 years.

    Reply

  15. The story of your mom and her life was so beautiful, thank you for sharing. I don’t usually read content and just jump to recipes. Today, when I needed it, I landed on your story. I am in a similar place. Hurrah to your mom and her three lovely years of life. Your recipes are always great, thank you for the hard work of a blog and sharing with others. ♥️♥️

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  16. Hello Sylvia… I certainly plan on trying this recipe and will promptly comment after—I’m sure it will be delicious. What I wanted to say was THANK YOU for sharing that beautiful story about your mother. I needed to hear it, for so many reason. “Choose your hard” 🙏🏼

    Reply

  17. We made this with tilapia. The spicing on the fish was excellent and the chipotle mayo was a great topping. Thanks

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  18. Tastes salty. I added 1/4 pepper, 1/8 tsp garlic powder, a tbls of lime juice (total, maybe a bit more), I recommend salt to taste. I also added a 1/4 ancho chili powder to increase the smoke and pepper flavor a bit more without additional spice. My child is relatively mild on spice, so that will be a to taste item for me.

    ★★★

    Reply

    1. Hi Kevin- sorry this was to salty for you. We make intenionally so- because we use it as a condiment on other things. Feel free to cut back. 😉

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Sylvia!

Chef and author of the whole-foods recipe blog, Feasting at Home, Sylvia Fountaine is a former restaurant owner and caterer turned full-time food blogger. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest and shares seasonal, healthy recipes along with tips and tricks from her home kitchen.

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