Pork Amarillo

“IF THERE WERE A CHILE TO TASTE LIKE SUNSHINE, THIS WOULD BE IT.”

How can you pass up a description like that?!!

Back when I discovered the chile pepper paste Gochujang, I spied another international paste called Aji Amarillo. It’s a bright yellow paste, from Peru, made from aji amarillo chile peppers.

From Serious Eats, “Aji amarillo is a bright-orange, thick-fleshed chile with a medium to hot heat level. It’s ubiquitous in Peruvian cuisine, working its way into soups and sauces, which are used in pretty much everything.”

Below are fresh aji amarillo chile peppers on the left, and the dried peppers on the right.

I wanted to use and taste this paste in its purest form, so I did what I often do with pastes and pestos, and that was to slather it on meat – in this case, pork tenderloin.

This is what it looks like – sunshine!

The options for using this paste, similar to paprika creme or an ancho chile paste, are endless. Rice or risottos, soups and stews, salad dressings, and so forth.

Pork with Aji Amarillo

2 pork tenderloins, trimmed, at room temperature
Salt
Pepper (I used Mignonette)
1 jar Aji Amarillo, about 7.5 ounces

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Typically I roast pork tenderloin, but I didn’t want the chile pepper paste too browned.

Place the tenderloins in an oiled baking dish and coat all sides with the oil. Tuck under the thin ends. Sprinkle lightly with salt and generously with pepper.

I discovered Mignonette pepper a while back, sold at Penzey’s. It’s a French-Canadian mixture of white and black pepper.

After the pork tenderloins are seasoned, slather them with the Aji Amarillo.

Place in the oven and bake, using an oven thermometer preferably. I take pork out when the internal temperature reaches 150 degrees.

Let the pork rest in the pan for about 15 minutes, then remove them to a cutting board.

Slice the pork in 3/8″ slices; it gets a bit messy with the paste.

Serve immediately. I had some roasted zucchini that I served with the pork.

Isn’t that color spectacular?!!

And don’t let the description of its fruitiness fool you. This is a chile pepper paste after all!

By Published On: October 30th, 201732 Comments on Pork Amarillo

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

32 Comments

  1. The Literate Chef October 30, 2017 at 7:14 AM - Reply

    This looks and sounds delicious. Where did you purchase the Aji Amarillo paste?

    • chef mimi October 30, 2017 at 2:38 PM - Reply

      Good old Amazon! that’s where I have to purchase a lot of my gourmet items, sadly!

      • Anonymous October 30, 2017 at 6:14 PM

        Thanks! On my list!

      • The Literate Chef October 30, 2017 at 6:16 PM

        Thanks! I’ve added it to my list.

  2. sallybr October 30, 2017 at 7:29 AM - Reply

    Definitely trying this soon… I think I’ll try to adapt for sous-vide… will keep you posted!

    • chef mimi October 30, 2017 at 2:36 PM - Reply

      Perfect! Are you already aware of these chile peppers?

  3. Gerlinde @ Sunnycovechef October 30, 2017 at 9:47 AM - Reply

    Your paste does look like sunshine, is it on the sweet side? I think I have seen the peppers in the store before. I definitely have to check it out.

    • chef mimi October 30, 2017 at 2:35 PM - Reply

      That’s the thing – it looks like it should be sweet, and sunshine sounds sweet, but it has a bite to it! In a lovely way.

  4. anotherfoodieblogger October 30, 2017 at 11:05 AM - Reply

    MMmmm, this looks like my kind of pork! I do love spicy foods.

    • chef mimi October 30, 2017 at 2:34 PM - Reply

      It was almost too pretty to be spicy, but it was!

  5. chefkreso October 30, 2017 at 4:37 PM - Reply

    Looks so yummy, and I really like those step-by-step photos!

  6. Chica Andaluza October 31, 2017 at 3:18 AM - Reply

    Ooh that looks so pretty! And it’s a new chilli to me 😀

  7. cookingwithauntjuju.com October 31, 2017 at 6:45 AM - Reply

    I love pork tenderloins and I love peppers – any heat level. I’m just now working with peppers from Turkey.

  8. Cocoa & Lavender October 31, 2017 at 7:40 AM - Reply

    Thanks to the blogosphere, I, too, have fallen for ají amarillo. Yes, a wee bit of a bite, but the flavor is so addictive! Will definitely try this soon!

  9. Loretta October 31, 2017 at 1:49 PM - Reply

    I don’t believe I have tried these peppers before, but it sure looks like it goes real well with the pork tenderloins.

    • chef mimi October 31, 2017 at 2:02 PM - Reply

      I thought the flavor was spectacular, plus the paste can mixed lightened up with other ingredients. Can’t wait to do that!

  10. kitchenriffs November 1, 2017 at 10:21 AM - Reply

    Aji Amarillo is new to me — have never heard of it. And obviously haven’t used it. Sounds really interesting — I’ll be looking for this. Thanks so much.

    • chef mimi November 2, 2017 at 3:20 PM - Reply

      I imagine there are many more chile pepper I have yet to discover and experience! But this chile paste was really fun to use, and less fiddly than using the actual chile peppers.

  11. eliotthecat November 4, 2017 at 5:54 PM - Reply

    I wonder where I can get my hands on some of this. Great use and I love your tips of stirring it into risotto! (Great color for Halloween as well!)

  12. Frank Fariello November 5, 2017 at 11:47 AM - Reply

    Yum! It’s true ají amarillo makes anything taste better. Love the stuff.

    • chef mimi November 6, 2017 at 5:13 PM - Reply

      I’m so glad I finally discovered it!

  13. karrie / Tasty Ever After November 13, 2017 at 10:44 AM - Reply

    I need a jar of this ASAP!!! Recipe looks delicious :)

  14. Kim Bultman November 13, 2017 at 12:28 PM - Reply

    Are those capers in the background, Mimi? LOVE your “sense” of flavorings. Was just about to make Sauce Vierge (re: your recently shared recipe) to top fresh bass fillets in lieu of Tilapia (I caught one of ’em, yay!), thanks to a friend’s late-season tomatoes. But, considering that pork is one o’ my man’s favorite meats (and he’s not averse
    “heat”) I plan to try this next. Hallelujah for Amazon deliveries in Oklahoma! :) Thanks for your education, entertainment, and EATS!

    • chef mimi November 13, 2017 at 12:37 PM - Reply

      Oh, that sauce vierge is amazing. And this paste is great, too. Absolutely, I agree – I wouldn’t know what I’d do without amazon! Well, I guess I do know because that was the dark ages, when i could only buy food when I traveled!

  15. Jeff the Chef November 23, 2017 at 6:36 AM - Reply

    I have a friend who grew Amarillo peppers, and froze me some. I should try making a paste of them.

    • chef mimi November 23, 2017 at 2:20 PM - Reply

      Oh that would be fun! You’ll love them!

Leave a Reply. I love 'em!