I made this spicy roasted pepper yogurt sauce to serve as a topping for a creamy celery root soup. This refreshing yogurt sauce gets a spicy kick from the addition of chili powder. This simple sauce is made with roasted bell peppers, yogurt, garlic, cumin, and cayenne or chipotle chili powder- a spicy paprika can also be used, especially for that smokey touch. For a non spicy version use sweet paprika powder instead of the chili powder.
My mom used to make a lot of different yogurt based sauces or dips, probably in part because we didn’t have sour cream widely available. And also because a yogurt based dip is somewhat healthier than a sour cream dip. Either way I am big fan of yogurt dips and am always experimenting with different ones. This one was particularly successful and can be served with soups, vegetables and seafood. It also works great as a dip. It does have a decent amount of garlic – I’m a garlic fan, but feel free to add less if you don’t want it too garlicky.
Recipe for a spicy roasted pepper yogurt sauce. This refreshing yogurt sauce gets a spicy kick from the addition of chili powder, the sauce is made with roasted bell peppers, yogurt, garlic, cumin, and cayenne or chipotle chili powder.
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed – adjust to taste
- 3 tablespoons of chopped roasted bell peppers
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder – can use cayenne or chipotle or a spicy paprika
- Salt to taste
- Red pepper flakes to garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender, mix until all the ingredients are pureed and the sauce is smooth.
- Garnish with red pepper flakes.
Notes
For a non spicy variation, use sweet paprika instead of the chili powder and omit the pepper flakes.
Kaberi Dawn says
August 10, 2013 at 10:30 amA nice recipe. Simple yet healthy and tasty. In India yogurt based dips are called ‘raita’. Cumin powder is a must in it. We often add very finely chopped onion and grated cucumber in it. Black salt is often used to give it a distinct flavor. I love your recipes..thanks a lot.
Shawn says
February 25, 2011 at 4:11 pmWould you recommend using fresh vegetables with this dip, or perhaps some type of chip or bread?
All of those options would work well with this sauce.
Mango Power Girl says
April 15, 2008 at 11:07 pmThat looks yum! My mom a lot of sauces and chutneys like these, too! They always take simple foods to the next level!