If you love Peruvian food but also care about calories, this recipe is for you.
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Me and my Peruvian fiance are volume eaters. That essentially means we aim to get the biggest bang from our buck with food. We want to eat a good amount of food and feel full without overpaying in calories.
We eat low calorie but also love Peruvian food, so this recipe fits into our lifestyle while still feeling comforting and satisfying.
Because we travel to Peru twice per year, we have learned many traditional recipes over time and slowly adapted them into low calorie versions we can enjoy at home.
Why This Low Calorie Huancaina Sauce Works
Traditional salsa huancaina is rich and creamy but also very high in calories.
This version keeps the authentic pepper flavor, creamy texture, and comforting taste while using fat free dairy, keto bread, almond milk, and portion controlled ingredients.
The result is a high volume, low calorie sauce that still tastes authentically Peruvian.
Ingredients
For the Huancaina Sauce:
- 340g aji amarillo.
- 20g aji limo.
- 540g fat free cottage cheese.
- 180g queso fresco.
- 614g unsweetened almond milk.
- 124g 35 calorie keto bread.
- 5g xanthan gum.
- Salt, to taste.
For the Pasta and Protein:
- Carbe Diem low calorie fettuccine.
- Milanesa steak.
What Are Aji Amarillo and Aji Limo?
Aji amarillo is Peru’s most important chili pepper. It is bright yellow orange, mild to medium in heat, and essential for huancaina sauce. It gives this dish its signature color and flavor.
Aji limo is smaller, and spicier. It adds extra heat and depth to the sauce. A little bit goes a long way.
If you are outside Peru, you can usually find frozen aji amarillo and aji limo at Latin American grocery stores. Many Hispanic markets carry them year-round in the freezer section.
How to Make Low Calorie Huancaina Sauce
This sauce works best when ingredients are added in the right order for texture and flavor.
- Step 1: Blend the Peppers. Add the aji amarillo and aji limo to a blender with a small splash of water. Blend until completely smooth.
- Step 2: Add Queso Fresco. Add the queso fresco and blend again until smooth and creamy.
- Step 3: Add Cottage Cheese and Almond Milk. Add the fat free cottage cheese and almond milk. Blend until smooth.
- Step 4: Add the Keto Bread. Add the keto bread and blend until smooth. This helps thicken the sauce.
- Step 5: Add Xanthan Gum. Add the xanthan gum and blend one more time. This gives the sauce a thicker texture.
- Step 6: Season Generously.
Add a good amount of salt and blend briefly. Taste and adjust. Huancaina needs enough salt to balance the peppers and dairy.
Calorie Breakdown for Low Calorie Huancaina Sauce
All calorie values are estimates based on standard nutritional data.
- Aji limo (20 g): about 8 calories.
- Aji amarillo (340 g): about 204 calories.
- Garlic (15 g): about 22 calories.
- Lime juice (40 g): about 10 calories.
- Fat-free cottage cheese (540 g): about 432 calories.
- Queso fresco (180 g): about 486 calories.
- Unsweetened cashew milk (64 g): about 7 calories.
- Low-calorie bread (124 g): about 280 calories.
- Xanthan gum (5 g): about 10 calories.
Total calories for full sauce batch: approximately 1,450 calories
What Makes This Huancaina Sauce Low Calorie
Normal Peruvian huancaina sauce often includes heavy cream, oil, and large amounts of cheese.
This lighter version uses:
- Fat-free cottage cheese for creaminess.
- A controlled amount of queso fresco to keep it close to the original flavor.
- Bread and xanthan gum for thickness without added fat.
- No added oils.
These swaps keep the flavor and texture while lowering overall calories.
Cooking the Pasta and Milanesa
While the sauce is blending, cook the Carbe Diem fettuccine according to package instructions.
Prepare the milanesa steak separately by pan frying.
Drain the pasta and mix it directly with the warm huancaina sauce. Top with milanesa.
Why We Measure Our Food
We are intentional about eating low calorie and tracking portions. That does not mean eating boring food.
Our low calorie cooking approach lets us enjoy Peruvian comfort food regularly without changing our healthy lifestyle.
How Traveling to Peru Inspired This Recipe
Because we go to Peru twice per year, we have tried huancaina in several restaurants.
Over time, we learned what flavors matter most, how sauces are built, and where the richness comes from. Then we experimented at home.
This version keeps the heart of the dish while making it fit our everyday lifestyle.
Serving Tips
If you want to make this extra authentic, you can serve this with boiled egg slices, lettuce, and olives.
For extra protein, add more steak or serve with grilled chicken.
How Many Calories Are in One Serving of Low Calorie Huancaina Sauce
This sauce makes about 4 to 6 servings depending on portion size.
- If divided into 6 servings: about 240 calories per serving.
- If divided into 5 servings: about 290 calories per serving.
- If divided into 4 servings: about 360 calories per serving.
- My typical portion falls in the 300 to 350 calorie range for the sauce.
Calories in Low Calorie Huancaina Sauce With Noodles
When paired with a measured portion of pasta, the full dish remains under 400 calories.
Average breakdown per plate:
- Huancaina sauce: about 300 calories.
- Pasta: about 120 calories.
- Estimated total: about 380 to 420 calories.
Most days, my bowl stays right around 400 calories.
If you love Peruvian food but want lighter options, this recipe is a great place to start.
