Llajua (Bolivian Tomato and Locoto Chili Salsa)
In short: A fresh, bright red Bolivian table salsa of ripe tomato, locoto and yellow chili, crushed to a rough sauce and served with almost every meal. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 15 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 15 kcal
Llajua is the salsa that sits on nearly every Bolivian table, next to the salt. Ripe tomatoes and fiery locoto peppers are crushed together, traditionally on a flat grinding stone, with a little yellow chili and fresh herb. The result is rough, juicy and bright. It goes with soups, empanadas, grilled meat, rice and potatoes, and a spoonful is enough to lift a plain plate.
Instructions
- Wearing gloves, halve the locotos, scrape out the seeds and white ribs, and chop the flesh roughly. Leave a few seeds in if you want more heat.
- Quarter the tomatoes and, if you like a thicker salsa, scoop out the seeds and watery pulp.
- Pulse the tomatoes, locotos, ají paste and salt in a blender 10 to 15 times, until roughly crushed with small flecks of skin. For the traditional texture, crush in batches in a mortar.
- Stir in the cilantro, then rest for 15 minutes so the flavors blend. Taste, add salt or a splash of water if needed, and serve in a small bowl.
Tips
- Locoto (rocoto) is hot and juicy, with black seeds. If you cannot find it, use 2 red jalapeños or 1 red Fresno chili plus a pinch of sweet paprika.
- Wear gloves when handling chilies and keep the pulse short, since a smooth puree is not wanted. The salsa keeps for 3 days in the fridge.
Questions and answers
What is llajua?
Llajua is the everyday Bolivian chili and tomato salsa, crushed rather than cooked. It is served with soups, empanadas, salteñas, grilled meats and rice.
How hot is llajua?
It can be quite hot, depending on the locoto and how many seeds go in. Remove the seeds and white ribs to tame it, or add more tomato.
What can I use instead of quirquiña?
Fresh cilantro is the closest widely available herb. Quirquiña has a stronger, slightly citrusy flavor, so use a little extra cilantro if you like.
How long does it take to make Llajua (Bolivian Tomato and Locoto Chili Salsa)?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Llajua (Bolivian Tomato and Locoto Chili Salsa)?
About 15 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 3 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 15 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 150 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
