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.
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 and something fantastically delicious! Use it as a taco sauce, over burrito bowls, tacos, burgers, or with almost any Mexican-inspired recipe!
The best thing is that 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 frequently comes in handy around here. It’s the best-tasting taco sauce, ever!
This and our Yum Yum Sauce just seem to make everything better so we always try to have at least one on hand.
How to make ChiPotLe mayo | 30-sec video
Ingredients in Chipotle Mayo
- Mayonnaise – You can use store-bought mayo, homemade mayo or our vegan mayo
- Lime juice– fresh lime is best!
- Chipotle (either dried ground chipotle powder or canned chipotle in Adobo Sauce-best!)
- Salt and spices (chili powder and smoked paprika)
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 homefront: 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 all her 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 and volatile, tearing her down emotionally, but he 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 souls, make healthy, unsettling choices, and take courageous action. This is not an 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. If my mother could do this, at 80, so can we, if need be. And it is never too late.
Ok, enjoy the recipe for Chipotle Mayo! Share what you think in the comments below. 🙂
xoxo
More from Feasting At Home
Chipotle Mayo (Mexican Secret Sauce)
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup
- 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)
- salt and pepper 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 salt, heat, and spices to taste. (I like mine slightly salty, and slightly spicy).
- 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 of 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 – half 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
Thank you for sharing your mom’s story! Hit home with me I cried tears of joy knowing she had the strength to leave!
Thanks, Penny. Glad it resonated!
I made this and left water out to put on meatloaf sandwiches. YUMMY
Yummy!
I made this for my father with our tacos last night. He could NOT stop asking me for more sauce. Thank you for your recipe and touching story about your mother 😀
Thanks so much Jay!
my cousin who moved from New Mexico to Utah, grew jalapenos and after she smoked them to make chipotle – gave some to me. Thank you for the recipe as I did not like the idea of buying Chipotle Gourmaise at $5-6 for 8.5oz although deelish, I prefer home made! PS your story about your mother is the reason I am commenting on your recipe so that I could let you know how touching and relevant that the words ‘never too late’ are. The words create beautiful, optomistic and liberating thoughts – all encompassing!
Thanks so much Marla- love the homemade chipotle peppers,and glad the words found you. 🙂
Just like a restaurants
Awesome!
I made this and got it too watery so I used it for a salad dressing instead.
Good flavor. Will make again using less liquid for a thicker consistency.
Good Luck!
Ooops!
I loved the story of your mother. As someone who coaches people for a living her life is much more common than you would think. I believe your courage to share that story opens up space for others to gain the courage to look within. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Ed, appreciate this!
Nice recipe. Love your thoughts about your mom Lea. Thank you!
Thanks Jon, appreciate this!
Hi Sylvia, I am new to your website and everything sounds amazing; I can’t wait to try your recipes. But it’s your story about your mom that has inspired me. You never know how important your words can be to others. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Libby, I’m glad my mom’s story found you and resonated. xoxo
I haven’t made the recipe yet. As another person notes, I usually skip to the recipe, but a phrase about making a change at 80 and it’s never too late caught me eye. I had just been thinking about some of these very things just before I logged on. I got teary too. And it was a well-timed message. Thank you for sharing it. And I’m so happy for your Mom, as well.
Thanks Em, glad it found you. ❤️
No, it’s never too late to take charge of your own life, em. I come to this site because I love her recipes, and the ones I’ve tried are out of this world. I have 2 sons (out of 6 kids) who spoil me. The others – not so. My sons (in their 50s) love to cook these recipes up for me when I can’t. This Chipotle Mayo hit the 10 star rating for them. Especially o tostadas or thinned down for salads.
Thank you for sharing your mother’s testimony.
Excellent!
Thanks Meg!
Yum!
Wonderful story! Thank you. My Mom only came to her independence after my father died. He had PTSD from WWII, though this wasn’t considered to be important at the time. The family suffered, (I hoped he would die when I was a child), and he only became human again after about 40 years. My Mom stuck by him all of that time. After he died, when she was 74, she became a different person, perhaps her original person. She lived for 18 more years and became one whom everyone loved, who baked cakes for neighbors and friends, inspired friends, sang in choirs, laughed with me over silly things we enjoyed together. Indeed, it is never too late to become a fully expressed human. And it is so inexpressibly sad that loyalty and love can impede that growth for decades, when loyalty and love are, in fact, some of the best qualities in us.
thanks for sharing Robin. ❤️
very nice !
Fantastic fish taco sauce! I only added 2 teaspoons of the Adobo without the chipotles (cause I’m a wuss 😝). So many uses for this sauce! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Perfect! Glad you liked it.
This is fantastic with your black bean burgers. Per your suggestion, I substituted Adobo for the chipotle powder and loved it. I couldn’t stop slathering it on the edge of my burger as I ate. Thanks for another great recipe.
Perfect, and so good with that black bean burger! Glad you enjoyed it!
Your watch the 30 sec video doesnt work.
Hi Tammy, it may be your ad blocker is on?
Haven’t tried the recipe but I read your story. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing incredible story about your mom. She was able to be her best and most authentic self in her last few years. I’m glad you got to experience that. And she sounds like a wonderful woman and mother. I am teary as I think of my mom. Much love.
thanks Maki!
I love the story about your Mum and I’m so happy to hear of her effervescence in her final years. I see I’m not alone in having tears at this. Thank you for sharing. She sounds amazing.
Love this recipe! A go-to at our house.
Sylvia, what a beautiful story it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing and I love the recipe . five stars
Sylvia, gotta be honest I usually skip to the recipe. This time I didn’t and I’m so glad. I was not expecting to tear up over a chipolte mayo recipe. Unexpectedly beautiful. Thank you for sharing with all of us strangers wandering around on the internet. And thank you to your mom, who’s journey has touched more than she would have ever guessed.
thanks, Marit- appreciate this.
Hi
The Organic Silken Tofu that you recommended is not organic. I do not see any USDA Organic sign on the box!
Thanks,
Sima
I will look for an alternative. 🙂