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.Video.
Serve this with our Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw, or these Crab Cakes with Cilantro & Lime!
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!
How to make ChiPotLe mayo | 30-sec video
Ingredients in Chipotle Mayo:
- mayo or vegan mayo
- Lime juice
- chipotle (either dried ground chipotle, or canned chipotle in Adobo Sauce-best!)
- salt and spices!
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.
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.
What to use Chipotle Mayo with:
- Quick Fish Tacos
- Mexican Style Oaxacan Bowls
- Baja Fish Taco Bowls
- Tlayludas
- Chipotle Portobello Tacos
- Amazing Black Bean Burgers (in under 30 mins!)
- Crispy Jackfruit Tacos
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.
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:
- Vegan Cilantro-Jalapeno Sauce– a green version of this!
- Peruvian Green Sauce (Aji Verde) Vegan-Adaptable
- Poblano Pumpkin Seed Sauce
- Chimichurri Sauce
- Avocado Sauce
- Fresh Tomatillo Salsa
- Fermented Hot Sauce….so easy and tasty!
- Fresh and Tasty Mexican Recipes!
- Olive Oil Mayo
Ok, enjoy the recipe for Chipotle Mayo! Share what you think in the comments below. 🙂
xoxo
Print
Chipotle Mayo (Mexican Secret Sauce)
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: whisk
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
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
- 1/2 cup mayo (or use sour cream, vegan mayo “Veganaise” – or make with silken tofu, see notes below)
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 –2 teaspoons lime juice (to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8– 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle powder – you can also use one chipotle pepper from a can (blending it with the mayo in a blender) or just stir in 1-3 teaspoons of the smoky adobo sauce from the can. Start conservatively, adding more to taste. I prefer the Adobo Sauce!
Instructions
- 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.)
- Taste, adjust heat and spices, adding more spices if you like. ( I usually add more salt and chili powder to taste.)
- Store in a small jar in the fridge, or in a squirt bottle for easy use.
- 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
I used follow your heart veganaise and it turned out great! Perfect with the black bean burgers!
Too much lime juice made it very sour, and not enough heat. I doubled the spice and still didn’t help. When I don’t usually eat spicy food
Thank you for sharing your mother’s life lessons. Cooking is love and family is love. I am touched by your sharing. I deeply understand.
Sylvia I had to go back over and reread your article to see what I missed? Sometimes in life their is no real perfect time to share a life’s lesson of a trial of pain. I’m 52 and went through many of the things your mother did. From having a heart attach, beatings, emotional trauma to losing mind and remarrying the man a second time after divorce. Walking around in fear and to add I had a child that suffered in it as well. Congrats to your mother! Even if it took a while for her to leave I’m glad she did!!! Sylvia I don’t even know why I begin to think about making this sauce????!!! LOL But the Lord knew why. I have a story to tell and it is never the Perfect time to share a positive message of encouragement and healing. Thank You once again for sharing.
Daniele L Hinkle- Pastor
Thanks Daniele. Appreciate you sharing. xoxo
Well that was odd sent me off in a tangent completely lost interest in the recipe. Have never used chopotle before but now I have to associate with your story. Not sure if it was cathartic in my case but a happy outcome. There is always a time to break free but when is the question?
Absolutely amazing! I made It with a couple of variations/adjustments but even my teenage son who hates fish in general thought it was super delicious!
The Mayo is WAY too watery, add water at end of needed
Beautiful story, you had me in tears. Thank you for sharing that with us. I absolutely love this sauce with the fish tacos and slaw. I am so happy I found you and your recipes
Awwww, thanks Lisa!
Beautiful story, it brought tears to my eyes. As a macrobiotic counsellor I can say for sure that even if you eat the most nutritious, carefully prepared food, if you are miserable in your marriage, work or something else, you can become very sick indeed. It’s a great lesson you are sharing.
Thanks for sharing – the story and the recipe. Such courage and wisdom. God bless your Mom.
Thanks, Deanna. Appreciate this. ❤️
Your story of your mother’s courage inspires me since I also have the same story with my best friend. Thank you also for sharing your recipe. Actually I am only searching for taco sauce recipe and I found two, good inspiring stories but I was curious with your story of your mother’s journey and your recipe.
Perfect story at the perfect time! Can’t wait to try the recipe!!! Thank you so much for sharing both! ❤❤❤
Love it!
Came for the recipe and got a great story! I usually jump right to the recipe…which I did, but a sentence jumped out at me and I was like let me read the rest. No matter what stage in life you, you deserve peace.
Thanks Jacque!
I love this recipe and make it once a week!! So simple and delicious, and the spice ratio is perfect. I eat so much of it so I usually use 1/2 plain coconut yogurt and 1/2 veganaise as the base, and if I don’t have lime handy I sub apple cider vinegar, but the recipe is really best as written!!!
Trying the recipe tonight. What I loved is your message on the homefront. I plan to share it with my mother who has the same story.
Thanks Robin. 😉
So easy and tasty 🙂 Thank you
Man I just want a quick recipe not a life story and 200 ads lmao.. formatting for cooking websites is just ridiculous these days
Hi Chip- save your sanity and use the JUMP TO RECIPE BUTTON at the top. 🙂 xoxo
Hahahaha
This is a fantastic and crowd impressing sauce! After making it a couple times, I’ve made some minor adjustments: mix mayo and sour cream, no water but more lime juice, only a half of chipotle pepper (canned with adobe sauce), and a teaspoon of yellow bird jalapeno hot sauce.
Sounds perfect!
This was delicious!!! Thank you 🙂
Thanks!!!
I even liked the spoon. Mmmmm
Thank you for sharing your recipe and your story of your mom! While I was reading your story, it was like if you were talking about my mom, with the exception that I don’t think she would ever leave my dad. And her mom went through the same thing. It is heart breaking to see such a bubbly and kind person suffer in a relationship where they can’t live how they want to. The only time she lives carefree is when she comes to visit us without him. And just like you, I love my dad, he was my hero growing up. But I would want to see her live more carefree, and he doesn’t let her. Well again thanks for sharing, at least when I heard your story, brought a sense of I am glad she was able to do it.🙂❤
Thanks Alma! Appreciate this.
Sooooo good! Loved it.
Hello! I just wanted to say that I came here for a corn recipe but I read the story about your mother and it’s like you were reciting my life thus far. I truly feel I was meant to see it and was brought to this site for that reason. I am also married to a man that describes your father perfectly. I feel the way your mother does and I live in a constant state of sadness and hopelessness because my husband also refuses to work on our relationship . I am in limbo on whether to start over in my fourties or stay and continue to feel unloved. Hopefully I can have the courage to practice self-love too one day. I love him so much but I’m so beat-down emotionally . Thank you for the story
Hi Jane, you are in a difficult place. I’ve been there and I’m sorry. It takes two to work on a marriage. Life is too precious and short to be miserable. But miserable is comfortable. We know miserable. But we don’t know what’s on the other side of miserable. Our minds tell us that is terrifying. So often we become OK with miserable because that is better than what is not known. It takes some faith and courage to venture to the unknown. Trust your life Jane. Trust your own heart.
Beautiful words of wisdom …God Bless🙏🏻
Usually I skip the dialogue, but this is inspiring. Although the circumstances applies to few, it is the inner strength that is inspiring. Especially now.
I loved the story about your mother! I was meant to read it and savour the lesson on self love. Thank you.
Easy and yummy