Creamy Jalapeno Salsa (Dairy Free) - Delish Knowledge (2024)

Creamy Jalapeno Sauce! Similar to Salsa Dona from TacoDeli in Austin, Texas, this jalapeno salsa is SO good! Spicy jalapeno salsa that tastes great on everything. A must-make if you like the heat!

Wow,this creamy jalapeno salsa.If you’ve talked to me since our trip back toAustin, I’ve likely talked about this jalapeno dip. It was the reason I went to Whole Foods almost daily to see if they had any of this sauce back in stock. It’s the reason I brought 10 mini-containers home with me from TacoDeli to try and recreate at home. I may or may not have drank three of those containers before we actually made it back to St. Louis.

It’sthatgood.

I’m pretty sure we were home for only a few hours when I headed to the grocery store to load up on what I thought was in it. After some creative investigative journalism when we were in Austin, I figured out that the sauce was mostly a blend of roasted jalapeños and garlic in an oil emulsion.

This creamy jalapeño sauce is so incredibly smooth, you won’t believe it’s not packed with avocados or sour cream. Many readers have said they’ve also tried to figure out what’s in Taco Deli’s salsa doña and are blown away that it doesn’t contain any dairy– yup, not a drop of mayonnaise!

This jalapeno salsa also tastes great on everything. I know this because I’ve gone through two batches in less than two weeks. Try it on mytofu migas tacos or sofritas tofu tacos if you’re looking for a new way to enjoy it. For the perfect balance of acid and heat, I usually pair this jalapeno sauce with my canning salsa or salsa roja.

See below for more details and tips, or scroll down to the full recipe card at the bottom.

Why we love this jalapeno sauce recipe

• It’s as spicy as you want it to be. Depending on the heat of your jalapeno peppers and how many seeds you add, this can be as spicy or mild as you prefer.
• Dairy-free. Unlike most creamy jalapeño sauce recipes that rely on mayo, greek yogurt, sour cream or buttermilk as their base, this one is completely dairy-free!
• Perfect taco topping. As this recipe is a copycat of the salsa doña that I had in Austin, it’s safe to say that it tastes great on any Tex-Mex or taco recipe! Try it on my lentil tacos, crispy bean tacos, cauliflower tacos, and my 10-minute black bean tacos.

Notes on Jalapeno Sauce Ingredients

• Jalapenos: The beauty of this recipe is that you can make it as spicy as you’d like. If you want to keep the seeds in, then it will be a fairly spicy salsa. If you omit them, then it won’t be as spicy but will still have some nice heat. I recommend wearing gloves to prepare the jalapenos so you don’t burn your skin.
• Oil: You can either use a neutral oil, like canola or avocado, or olive oil. I don’t recommend an extra-virgin olive oil as it will impart too much flavor. You can use a regular olive oil that is more mild in flavor if you prefer. I usually use canola because it doesn’t have any flavor.

Substitution Notes

For a milder sauce, you can substitute Anaheim peppers or poblano peppers. You can also substitute some of the jalapenos for a poblano pepper. I don’t recommend using a banana pepper as they don’t have the same depth of flavor as a jalapeno pepper does.

I don’t add any other dried spices, but some readers have added cumin or smoked paprika to their salsa. Additionally, I find that the 1 teaspoon of salt is perfect for this recipe, but if you are watching your sodium intake or are sensitive to salt, then I recommend starting with 1/2 teaspoon and adding more from there to taste.

How to Make this Creamy Jalapeño Salsa Recipe

Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for full ingredient amounts and exact instructions.

Hard to believe that this creamy, spicy jalapeño salsa is made from such simple ingredients. Jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, oil, and salt!

How Spicy Do You Want Your Creamy Jalapeño Sauce?

Salsa Dona is fairly spicy, which is why I like to make it with enough heat. Jalapeños can vary in their spice level and you can always add in more of the peppers, but you can’t take them away once they are added.

The very first batch I made, I kept in all of the seeds and oh my, I’m pretty sure I’mstillbreathing fire. For medium heat, I like a mix of 1/2 and 1/2; half of the peppers completely de-seeded, half left in.

If you’re not sure on your preferred spice level, start with 1/4 of the jalapeños and their seeds and the rest with seeds removed. Set some seeds aside, then make the sauce. If you still need a kick of heat, add in more seeds and blend again.

I think this salsa is perfect as is, but if you want more tang then some readers like to add a little squeeze of fresh lime juice to the finished creamy jalapeno sauce. This will also help cut through some of the spice if it’s too much.

You’ve been warned! Once you try this creamy jalapeno sauce, you’ll want to put it oneverything.

• Tofu migas tacos
• Vegan lentil tacos
• Black bean tacos
• Tofu tinga tacos
• Taco stuffed sweet potatoes
• Chipotle softitas tacos.

It’s also fantastic on its own as a dipping sauce with quesadillas or with tortilla chips! My husband and I have been known to make a meal out of this creamy jalapeño salsa and a basket of tortilla chips some nights for dinner. If you love taco salads or burrito bowls, it’s also great mixed with a little ranch dressing and used as a salad dressing! Trust me on that one!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag yourInstagramphotos with #delishknowledge . I absolutelyloveseeing your creations. Happy cooking!

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This recipe was first posted in 2018 and updated in 2024.