Key Takeaways:
- Quick 5-minute prep time yields a rich, tangy sauce
- Makes enough for 4 people (about 1 cup total)
- Stores well in the fridge for up to 5 days
- Customizable heat level to suit your taste
Your homemade empanadas deserve better than plain store-bought sauce. This easy Empanada Dipping Sauce recipe brings together bright citrus, rich garlic, and just the right kick of heat to make your empanadas shine. If you love exploring different specialty and dipping sauces, this one deserves a spot in your collection. Ready in just 5 minutes!
Nutrition Information (per 1/4 cup serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 120 |
| Fat | 11g |
| Carbs | 4g |
| Protein | 1g |
| Sodium | 350mg |
What You’ll Need for Homemade Empanada Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mayonnaise | 1/2 cup |
| Fresh lime juice | 2 tablespoons |
| Garlic cloves, minced | 2 |
| Chipotle pepper in adobo | 1 |
| Fresh cilantro, chopped | 1/4 cup |
| Ground cumin | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Salt | 1/4 teaspoon |
| Black pepper | 1/4 teaspoon |
Kitchen Tools
- Small mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Garlic mincer (optional)
- Knife and cutting board
- Storage container with lid
- Paper towels
- Small spoon for tasting
- Citrus juicer (optional)
Simple Substitutions
- Replace mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter option
- Swap lime juice with lemon juice
- Use garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon) instead of fresh garlic
- Replace chipotle with hot sauce to taste
Detailed Empanada Dipping Sauce Instructions for Beginners
Before You Start (2 minutes)
- Clean Your Workspace
- Wipe down your counter with warm, soapy water
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap for 20 seconds
- Lay out a clean kitchen towel for spills
- Gather Your Tools
- Place all tools on your clean counter
- Make sure your mixing bowl is completely dry
- Have measuring spoons ready
- Set up your cutting board and knife
- Prepare Your Ingredients
- Remove all ingredients from the refrigerator
- Place them on your counter in order of use
- Let mayonnaise sit at room temperature for 5 minutes for easier mixing
Ingredient Preparation (5 minutes)
- Prepare the Garlic
- Peel 2 garlic cloves:
- Cut off the hard ends
- Place clove under flat side of knife
- Gently press to crack skin
- Remove and discard skin
- Mince garlic:
- Slice each clove lengthwise
- Cut into thin strips
- Cut across strips to mince
- Keep minced pieces very small (about size of rice grain)
- Peel 2 garlic cloves:
- Prepare the Cilantro
- Rinse cilantro under cold water
- Pat completely dry with paper towels
- Remove leaves from stems
- Gather leaves into tight bunch
- Chop leaves finely
- Measure 1/4 cup packed
- Prepare the Chipotle Pepper
- Open can of chipotles in adobo carefully
- Remove one pepper using fork
- Place on cutting board
- Remove seeds if less heat desired
- Chop very finely
- Keep 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from can
- Juice the Lime
- Roll lime on counter using firm pressure
- Cut in half
- Squeeze to extract juice:
- Use citrus juicer if available
- Or squeeze by hand over bowl
- Remove any seeds
- Measure 2 tablespoons
Making the Perfect Empanada Dipping Sauce (5 minutes)
- Start with Base
- Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise to mixing bowl
- Scrape sides of measuring cup with rubber spatula
- Ensure no mayo remains in measuring cup
- Add Wet Ingredients
- Pour in measured lime juice
- Add 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
- Whisk until completely smooth
- Scrape sides of bowl
- Incorporate Seasonings
- Add minced garlic
- Add chopped chipotle
- Sprinkle in ground cumin
- Add salt and pepper
- Whisk gently to combine
- Final Mixing
- Add chopped cilantro
- Fold everything together with whisk
- Mix until evenly distributed
- No streaks should remain
- Taste Test
- Use clean spoon to taste small amount
- Adjust seasonings if needed:
- More salt for overall flavor
- More lime for tanginess
- More chipotle for heat
Final Steps (3 minutes)
- Check Consistency
- Sauce should be thick but spoonable
- Should coat back of spoon
- If too thick, add lime juice 1 teaspoon at a time
- If too thin, add mayonnaise 1 tablespoon at a time
- Transfer to Storage
- Use rubber spatula to scrape bowl clean
- Pour into clean storage container
- Smooth top with spatula
- Wipe rim of container clean
Troubleshooting
Sauce is too thick:
- Add lime juice or water, 1 teaspoon at a time
- Whisk after each addition
- Check consistency before adding more
Too spicy:
- Mix in extra mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon at a time
- Add a touch of honey (1/4 teaspoon)
- Increase cilantro amount
Too tangy:
- Add a pinch more salt
- Mix in 1/4 teaspoon honey
- Add extra mayonnaise
Empanada Dipping Sauce Variations
- Creamy Garlic:
- Skip chipotle
- Double garlic (4 cloves)
- Add 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Increase mayonnaise to 3/4 cup
- Extra Spicy:
- Add extra chipotle (2 total)
- Include 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- Mix in hot sauce to taste
- Have extra lime juice ready
- If you enjoy spicy dips, check out my samosa dipping sauce that uses similar heat principles
- Herb Lovers:
- Double cilantro (1/2 cup)
- Add 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- Include 1 teaspoon fresh oregano
- Reduce salt slightly
Storage & Reheating
Storage:
- Transfer to airtight container
- Seal lid tightly
- Keep refrigerated
- Stays fresh up to 5 days
- Do not freeze
Before Serving:
- Remove from fridge 10 minutes early
- Stir well with clean spoon
- Add splash of lime if needed
- Check consistency
- Taste and adjust seasonings
Empanada Dipping Sauce Safety Notes & Tips
- Always wash hands before and during prep
- Use clean utensils for each taste test
- Don’t leave sauce at room temperature over 2 hours
- Check ingredients for freshness before using
- Store covered to prevent contamination
- Label container with date made
- Clean all surfaces and tools after prep
- Refrigerate immediately after making
- Keep sauce separate from other foods
- Use clean spoon each time you serve
- If you enjoy making homemade sauces, you might also like my homemade pizza sauce recipe which uses similar preparation techniques
