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Ají pepper

Ají pepper refers to several South American chile varieties used fresh, dried, or ground in sauces and savory dishes.

Ají pepper — illustrative ingredient image

About Ají pepper

Ají pepper is a broad South American culinary term for various Capsicum peppers rather than one standardized cultivar or processed product. It is used fresh, dried, ground, or blended into sauces and pastes, and appears in savory dishes whose character depends on the particular variety and preparation.

Flavour and heat can range from mild and fruity to strongly pungent, so the name alone does not establish a particular culinary intensity. Fresh fruits may be crisp and juicy, while dried or ground material can be leathery, powdery, or incorporated into a smoother sauce or paste.

Depending on variety, the fruits may be green, yellow, orange, or red. Ají pepper is sold as fresh fruit, dried pods, powder, flakes, sauces, and pastes; chopping, drying, grinding, blending, or cooking changes its texture and how prominently its flavour and heat come through.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where ají pepper appears

3 linked foods

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Showing 1–3 of 3

Main dishes

Street food

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for ají pepper

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Aji pepper

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Ají pepper nutrition & diet

Ají pepper nutritional value

Representative benchmark: Spices, not further specified

Representative nutrition benchmarkOfficial table values for a comparable food category, not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient.

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
349kcal
Protein
12.1g
Carbs
30.5g
Fat
14.5g

Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

“Ají pepper” is a broad label, so establish the exact species or variety, maturity, and form before using a reference. Fresh, dried, ground, and sauced products are not interchangeable. Record seed handling and all additions, especially salt, oil, vinegar, sweeteners, or other spices.

Compare the right form: Identify the specific South American chile variety and match fresh, dried, ground, or prepared form; a generic ají label is insufficient.

Diet considerations

Ají pepper refers to plant-derived chiles, but the name does not establish one species or formulation. Plain peppers differ from blended sauces, pastes, and seasonings that may contain dairy, animal stock, cereal ingredients, or sweeteners. Product-specific labels and the accompanying dish determine compatibility and carbohydrate patterns.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Pacific Nutrient Database 2020 — 01.1.9.4.0_99 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .