• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Harvest and Wild Community Table logo

  • Meet Matt
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast and brunch recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Desserts and sweets
    • Snacks
    • Sides
    • Drinks, Smoothies and Cocktails
  • Entertain
    • Menus
    • Music
    • Resource Library
    • Set up your kitchen
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact us
  • Harvest and Wild
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Start here
  • Recipes
  • Menus
  • Resource Library
  • Music
×

Aztec Sauce – healthy Southwest Sauce copycat

Published: Oct 20, 2019 · Modified: Apr 2, 2020 · This blog uses cookies and may contain ads or affiliate links. See this page for more details · 16 Comments

Sharing is caring!

100 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
southwest sauce clone - aztec sauce

This aztec sauce is an easy healthy southwest sauce copycat recipe, adding a spicy and citrus tang to your sandwiches, dips and even marinade.

Aztec Sauce - spicy dipping sauce in glass jar with pretzel dipping into it

This post was originally published back in 2015, but has been drastically updated with a better recipe and some nicer photos and questions answered!

If you were a child of the 90s in North America than you likely enjoyed a subway sandwich more than a few times. I loved the BMT or Spicy Italian. Plus, and let’s be honest, you wanted some of those old school stamps they used to give out for the sub cards to earn yourself a free one. 

Also, like a lot of you when you were younger and didn’t need to worry about waistlines, I would always ask them for the southwest sauce. It was creamy and spicy, and I loved that in my sandwiches. Nowadays though, the waistline is an issue. So when I looked up the nutritional information about subways southwest sauce, I was shocked by the amount of fat in just the sauce alone.

Aztec Sauce - overhead shot of spicy sandwich sauce in glass jar

So, some tinkering in the kitchen and I came up with a southwest sauce clone, that tasted pretty spot on to the original. I went a bit further though, with some bit of lime juice and some cilantro to give it more of a southwest flavour. Honestly, I used this batch of sauce for dipping my fries into, and it was delicious.

Well, then I noticed something else. I decided to compare my ingredients to those Subway mentions and saw something that horrifying for those getting horizontally challenged, its calories. Yikes! So, looking in the fridge I realised that I had some greek yoghurt. Now, I’ve used greek yoghurt as a base for sauces and salad dressings before, and they have worked out well. I figured, what the hell and swapped the mayo for the greek yoghurt.

The results, well let’s just say wow! It has all the spice of the original southwest sauce, but with a bit of added tang from the Greek yoghurt. No longer a southwest sauce clone, but rather Aztec Sauce. I ran the recipe through the nutritional calculator and it was a great result. Less than 1g of fat for the whole recipe, and a big jump in protein. This healthy southwest sauce copycat recipe is not guilt-free, but it is close!

Aztec Sauce - southwest sauce in glass jar with pretzel dipping into it

 

What can you use this spicy sandwich sauce for?

On a sandwich is the easiest call. Load up a meat sandwich with veggies and a squirt of this sauce over the top for a great flavour. One of the best combos is on my healthy crispy chicken sandwich.

I’ve also loved using this sauce as a dip. The zing of the lime goes so well with some salty snacks!

A southwest sauce clone, but better

How do you make a southwest sauce copycat (Aztec Sauce)?

Luckily this sauce is so easy to make, with only a few quick steps.

  1. Place the Greek Yoghurt in a bowl, and stir in the chipotle pepper paste. 
  2. Finely chop the cilantro/coriander and immediately add to the bowl. Then grate your garlic into the sauce, I use this (https://amzn.to/32ytU3E) garlic grater and it has been a great purchase. Using this means you get a fine garlic paste. 
  3. Season with salt and pepper, and chill in the fridge for about 30min to let the flavours come together. 

What can you use instead of Greek Yoghurt?

I’ve made this sauce originally with mayo and tried it again with light mayo. In both ways, it works well but is a bit less tangy so you might want to add a bit more lime juice. Sourcream is also a great option and gives you the tang we are looking for.

How long will Aztec Sauce last? 

In a refrigerator, it should last you about 2-3 days in a covered container.

Aztec Sauce - overhead shot of southwest sauce in glass jar

How can you make this healthy southwest sauce clone vegan? 

Well, just use vegan mayo! Easy peasy!

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=totalfeasts-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B018RBGLJM&asins=B018RBGLJM&linkId=a0853d13734958890981063b9ec00ae2&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

Can I use this sandwich sauce as a marinade?

Yes, but it depends on your base. I love marinating the chicken in Greek yoghurt, it doesn’t take long but helps tenderize the chicken. You can wipe most of this sauce off and then bake or grill the chicken. 

I like this southwest sauce copycat, what else is nice?

  1.  Healthy chicken sandwich
  2.  Buttermilk Fried Chicken – Girl Heart Food 
  3.  Rye Soft Pretzels The Beach House Kitchen
Aztec Sauce - southwest sauce clone in glass jar and pretzel dipping into it

Aztec Sauce – Southwest Sauce clone

Matt
This aztec sauce is an easy southwest sauce clone, adding a spicy and citrus tang to your sandwiches, dips and even marinade.
5 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Course sauces, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Mexican, tex-mex
Servings 6 people
Calories 27 kcal

Equipment

  • Garlic Grater
  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Low Fat Greek Yoghurt
  • 1 TB Chipotle pepper puree
  • 1 Fresh limes – juice and zest
  • Small bunch cilantro – cleaned and chopped including stems
  • 1 clove Garlic grated
  • 1/2 tsp salt and pepper for seasoning)

Instructions
 

  • Place the Greek Yoghurt in a bowl, and stir in the chipotle pepper paste. 
  • Finely chop the cilantro/coriander and immediately add to the bowl. Then grate your garlic into the sauce, I use a Garlic Grater and it has been a great 
  • Season with salt and pepper, and chill in the fridge for about 30min to let the flavours come together. 

Notes

I use one of these in my kitchen, it is a great garlic grater!
Keyword chipotle, dip, dips, garlic, lime, marinade, sandwich, sandwich sauce, southwest, southwest sauce, spicy, spicy sauce, subway
southwest sauce clone - aztec sauce

« German Cherry Cake
The Ultimate Sandwich: Montreal Smoked Meat »

Food, Healthy recipes, Lunch, Sandwiches and wraps, Sauces, spices, condiments and dressings, Sides, Snacks, Starters and sides, Year-round recipes chipotle, dip, dips, garlic, lime, marinade, sandwich, sandwich sauce, sauce, southwest, southwest sauce, spicy sauce, subway

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Neil says

    October 20, 2019 at 10:44 am

    I love making recipes healthier, but just as tasty. And that’s exactly what you’ve done here Matt. Love it!

    Reply
    • Matt says

      November 09, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      Thanks Neil!

      Reply
  2. David @ Spiced says

    October 22, 2019 at 12:21 pm

    I am all about sauces…and this sounds like a really good one, Matt! Perfect for sandwiches or dipping pretzels (genius idea there). Also, I totally smiled at the comment about those little Subway stickers. I had totally forgotten about those, but that takes me way back to childhood there. Excellent post, my friend!

    Reply
    • Matt says

      November 09, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      Yeah, who doesn’t love dipping Pretzels!

      Reply
  3. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    October 22, 2019 at 12:47 pm

    I LOVE chipotle, especially in sauces so this one is right up my alley! This is definitely something I would use on the regular for wings, pizza crust and more! Lol…I remember those stamps!! Seems like forever ago now! Thanks so very much for the shout out too, Matt! Much appreciated 🙂

    Reply
    • Matt says

      November 09, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      🙂

      Reply
  4. Elaine says

    October 23, 2019 at 12:13 am

    A dip, a spread, a marinade–Wow! Love all these flavours. Great recipe!

    Reply
    • Matt says

      November 09, 2019 at 6:03 pm

      Thanks Elaine

      Reply
  5. Colleen says

    October 23, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I haven’t tried the Subway version, but I’m sure yours is much more delicious, as well as healthier. I love the versitality of this sauce, and can’t wait to try it on some tacos.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      November 09, 2019 at 6:03 pm

      Thanks Colleen

      Reply
  6. Leanne says

    October 24, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    So, we still get Subway from time to time as a quick weekday meal. I’ll go for a veggie on whole wheat, but hubby will get a melt and he loves a generous amount of southwest sauce. I’m pinning this recipe Matt. I have to try it!

    Reply
    • Matt says

      November 09, 2019 at 6:03 pm

      Thanks Leanne!

      Reply
  7. Ben|Havocinthekitchen says

    October 24, 2019 at 11:56 pm

    I’m not familiar with the name “aztec sauce”, but I do love greek yogurt-based sauces and dressings. This one sounds splendid! This is certainly a perfect dipping and snacking situation 🙂 Love the idea of using sour cream, too.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      November 09, 2019 at 6:04 pm

      Yeah, Aztec sauce is my own sad attempt at naming something!

      Reply
  8. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

    October 25, 2019 at 4:26 am

    Love that you made this with Greek yogurt!! We are big into dipping sauces. I have all of the flavours for this one, so now i definitely need to try it! Happy weekend!

    Reply
  9. Kristen says

    October 25, 2019 at 4:22 pm

    This sauce sounds fantastic and so easy to put together – definitely going to add this to my next sandwich!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

I’m a husband, dad, bluenosers and an avid cook and picture taker and business owner. I think food is meant to be shared, and good food brings people together. about me!

Browse all recipes

Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs
Foodies100

Footer

  • © 2021 Harvest and Wild Condiments Ltd
  • About – Meet Matt
  • Advertising and Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Total Feasts