Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon adobo sauce (from the can of chipotles)
- 2 large cloves fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons cold water or milk (for thinning, optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Rough chop the chipotle peppers and peel the garlic cloves. Combine the sour cream, chopped chipotles, adobo sauce, whole garlic cloves, lime juice, and cumin into a small food processor or high-speed blender.
- Step 2: Blend the mixture on high speed for 30–60 seconds, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides, ensuring all ingredients are fully incorporated and the sauce is completely smooth.
- Step 3: Season the mixture with the 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Taste the sauce, adjusting the spice level by adding more adobo sauce or acidity with additional lime juice if desired.
- Step 4: Assess the sauce’s consistency. If it is too thick for drizzling, slowly stream in the cold water or milk while blending until a smooth, pourable, yet creamy texture is achieved.
- Step 5: Transfer the Chipotle Garlic Sauce to an airtight container. Refrigerate the sauce for a minimum of 30 minutes before serving; chilling allows the bold flavors to fully meld and intensify.
Notes
- Store this dairy-based sauce in a sealed container in the fridge; enjoy within 5–7 days, but note the fresh garlic flavor may become sharper over time.
- Never attempt to reheat this sauce, as the sour cream base will separate and curdle; serve chilled straight from the refrigerator or let it sit briefly at room temperature.
- Use this vibrant sauce to elevate simple grilled proteins like chicken or shrimp, or thin it slightly more for a zesty dressing on street corn salad.
- For the deepest, most balanced flavor profile, follow the instruction to chill the sauce for at least an hour; this resting time allows the intense raw garlic to mellow and fully integrate with the smoky chipotle.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American