Peruvian huacatay

Cream of black mint, also called ají huacatay or black mint sauce, is a creamy sauce prepared with huacatay (or black mint) leaves and blended with other ingredients to accompany various Peruvian dishes. The sauce is used specifically for Peruvian parrillada (barbecue) and Peruvian pollada, but it is also prepared for other less common meals. Cream of black mint has a green color and thick texture.

Peruvian huacatay

Alternative names	black mint sauce, ají huacatay
Type	sauce
Associated cuisine	Peru
Main ingredients	huacatay leaves
Ingredients generally used	oil, queso fresco, chiles, garlic, cilantro, scallions, salt
Similar dishes	Papa a la huancaina

Preparation

The sauce is prepared with huacatay, a leafy green herb native to the Andes mountains, which is found growing wild in many fields and small farms. It is not formally cultivated, because it is self-propagating and used by the locals in their condiments. It is similar to the paico (or epazote) plant, which is used in sopa de paico, or paico soup.

In Peru and other Latin American countries, the huacatay leaves are crushed using a fulling mill, a stone tool that serves as a traditional blender. This grinds the leaves more coarsely than a modern blender would, but allows greater absorption of flavor. The sauce is easy to prepare and typically takes 15–30 minutes to make. It is traditionally used in the preparation of chicken parties or barbecues, but many households prepare it on a regular basis.