Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (2024)

Xni-Pec is a Yucatan salsa made with fresh habanero peppers, tomato, onion, sour orange juice and more. It packs some heat, and as the name implies, might make you sweat like a dog's nose.

Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (1)

Yucatan Habanero Salsa - "Xni-Pec"

Sweat like a dog's nose you may, my friends. The fresh habanero peppers in this salsa makes it quite hot, but addictively so. It is pleasant, really, as any fresh salsa can be and you can practically make it with ingredients straight out of your garden.

It is quite similar to pico de gallo in both composition and flavor, though quite a bit hotter and more of the typical habanero tropical flavor.

The name says it all. Xni Pec, pronounced "Shnee Pek", translates to "Dog's Nose" or "Dog's Snout" in Mayan, which implies you will sweat like a dog's nose when you eat it. I can verify the truth in this statement.

I made this salsa on a Saturday and snapped a photo, then posted it on Facebook, sharing how gorgeous it looked - and truly, it DOES look gorgeous, doesn't it? I received a comment from my neighbor to bring it to her party the next day for her son's 8th grade graduation - Congrats, Jacob!

While it was a hit at the party - it received many compliments - I think it was mostly a hit with Jacob and his young friend as they proceeded to devour half of the bowl together.

They enjoyed the flavor at first, but as the chow down session wore on, both were beading with sweat on their foreheads and attempting to waft the fumes of heat from their mouths.

Luckily there was a bit of whipped cream for them at the end of the evening to help control the burn, but I'm happy to say I believe I've converted a few more in the world to chileheads.

Yes! Goal accomplished.

Let's talk about how to make Xni Pec, shall we?

Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (2)

Xni Pec Ingredients

  • Habanero Peppers. Habaneros are key to this dish for their fiery heat and citrusy flavor.
  • Tomato. Juicy Roma tomatoes are great here.
  • Onion. I'm using white onion.
  • Sour Orange Juice. Sour orange juice is a unique ingredient that makes this dish special. If you can't find it, use fresh lime juice + fresh orange juice (as a variation, try grapefruit juice).
  • Fresh Chopped Cilantro.
  • Salt. To personal taste.
Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (3)

How to Make Xni Pec (Habanero Salsa) - the Recipe Method

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Taste and adjust for salt. Watch out for the punch of initial heat!

Cover and refrigerate overnight for the flavors to mingle and develop. Serve!

Boom! Done! Your habanero salsa is ready to serve. Get ready to sweat, my friends. Xni-Pec truly delivers in the heat department. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve this salsa recipe up right away, as it is quite awesome when fresh, or let it sit covered in the refrigerator at least a couple hours or better yet, overnight, to allow the flavors to develop, just as you would do with a pico de gallo.

I like it both ways. Serve this as an appetizer along with chips, or as a garnish for tacos or tostados. I often like to spoon salsa over fish or chicken for a healthier but big-on-flavor meal choice.

Xni Pec will certainly deliver on those accounts. I hope you enjoy it as much as the soon-to-be freshmen did!

Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (4)

Patty's Perspective

The citrus in this salsa really tamed the other ingredients to my own personal tastes. Sometimes raw onion can be harsh, but not so with this recipe. It was quite hot, but delicious.

Try Some of My Other Popular Salsa Recipes

  • Habanero Salsa
  • Fresh Mango Salsa
  • Salsa Criolla - Argentinian Salsa
  • Homemade Picante Sauce
  • Salsa Roja
  • Salsa Verde
  • Fresh Ghost Pepper Salsa
Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (5)

Got any questions? Ask away!I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (6)

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Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe

Xni-Pec is a Yucatan salsa made with fresh habanero peppers, tomato, onion, sour orange juice and more. It packs some heat, and as the name implies, might make you sweat like a dog's nose.

Save Recipe

Course: Salsa, Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: habanero

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Calories: 25kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: 4

Tap or hover to scale

5 from 7 votes

Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 3 habanero peppers chopped (or more, as desired)
  • 1 medium tomato chopped
  • 1 small white onion chopped
  • 3 tablespoons fresh sour orange juice or 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice + 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice (as a variation, try grapefruit juice)
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Taste and adjust for salt.

  • Cover and refrigerate overnight for the flavors to mingle and develop. Serve!

Video

Notes

Heat Factor: HOT. You'll get a good level of heat with this habanero salsa recipe. But it's worth it!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 25kcalCarbohydrates: 5gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 162mgSugar: 3gVitamin A: 420IUVitamin C: 23.7mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 0.2mg

Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (7)

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 6/3/22 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 6/6/16.

Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Xni-Pec (Dog’s Nose) - Habanero Salsa Recipe? ›

Cool Down Too-Spicy: Salsa

For red-based salsas, add more tomato, if possible, or add finely chopped cucumber, avocado, fresh leafy herbs, mango, melon or oranges. A touch of honey or sugar may also help.

How to reduce spiciness in salsa? ›

Cool Down Too-Spicy: Salsa

For red-based salsas, add more tomato, if possible, or add finely chopped cucumber, avocado, fresh leafy herbs, mango, melon or oranges. A touch of honey or sugar may also help.

How to make pico de gallo less spicy? ›

Remove the seeds and membranes if you want your pico slightly less hot. Finally, I like to add a handful of chopped cilantro to mine, along with a quick squeeze of lime juice, though the latter can always be added via some sliced wedges at the table.

How to make hot salsa mild? ›

Adding acid and sweetness are well known ways to tame a spicy dish. Try squeezing in the juice of a quarter lime and a half teaspoon of sugar or honey. Remember you can always add more, so mix in additional flavors little by little and taste as you go.

How to make salsa spicier? ›

9 Ways to Make Mild Salsa Spicier
  1. 1 – Add Your Preferred Brand of Hot Sauce. ...
  2. 2 – Chop or Dice Jalapenos and Add to Your Mild Salsa. ...
  3. 3 – Add Diced Raw Onions (or Even Onion Powder) ...
  4. 4 – Add Crushed Red Pepper Flakes. ...
  5. 5 – Mix Chopped Raw Chili Peppers into Mild Salsa. ...
  6. 6 – Sprinkle in Cayenne Pepper.
Sep 30, 2022

What cancels out spicy taste? ›

6 Tips to Fix Dishes That Are Too Spicy
  1. Add Dairy. There's a lot of hype about using milk to help provide relief from spicy foods, and for good reason. ...
  2. Use Citrus. ...
  3. Add Nuts or Nut Butters. ...
  4. Sprinkle in Sugar. ...
  5. Add Starch or Grains. ...
  6. Dilute It.
Apr 14, 2022

What neutralizes spicy sauce? ›

Balancing it with an acid can help neutralize the molecule's activity. This means drinking or eating something acidic — such as lemonade, limeade, orange juice or a tomato-based food item or drink — may also help cool your mouth down. (Milk is also acidic, by the way.) DO down some carbs.

How do you make spicy sauce milder? ›

So that that being said, here are some of the best ways to make a hot sauce less spicy:
  1. Add more of the non-spicy ingredients.
  2. Use sour flavors.
  3. Add a sweetener.
  4. Add alcohol.
  5. Add butter or olive oil.
  6. Add coconut milk.
  7. Add yogurt.
Feb 12, 2024

How do you make pico de gallo less bitter? ›

The Role of Tomatoes in Salsa's Flavor

As tomatoes ripen, their sugars start to convert to acids, resulting in a bitter taste. It's important to use fresh, firm tomatoes for your salsa to avoid any bitterness. Additionally, removing the tomato seeds can help reduce bitterness, as they can contain bitter compounds.

Does lime juice make salsa less spicy? ›

The best acidic ingredients that help make salsa less spicy are: Lime Juice, Lemon Juice, and Tomatoes. Depending on your personal taste preferences, and the flavor of your salsa, you may decide to add one or more of these ingredients.

Which salsa is not spicy? ›

The Best Mild Salsa You Can Buy Practically Anywhere: Pace Chunky Salsa. Emily Johnson admitted that she loved this salsa mostly for its "nostalgic flavor." It had pleasant low-level heat and was chunky, but a little thinner than our top picks.

Which salsa is spicier mild or medium? ›

Medium is spicier than mild, but many store-bought “medium” and “mild” foods taste similar. Spiciness levels are based on how much of the chemical capsaicin a pepper has. The scale ranges from mild to extremely hot. Everybody has a different spice tolerance—“mild,” “medium,” and “hot” are all relative.

How do you thicken hot salsa? ›

Fortunately, there's an easy way to thicken this kind of salsa to your exact liking: tomato paste. A tablespoon or two could be just what you need to tighten up your sauce but do keep in mind that not all salsas are the same.

What can I add to my salsa to make it hotter? ›

How do you make store bought salsa hotter? add any kind of hot peppers such as jalapeno diced, hot chili peppers diced,cayenne pepper those are just a few you can add and you will add the heat and will not alter the taste….

Why add cumin to salsa? ›

Cumin – Its earthy flavor adds complexity to the zesty sauce. Sugar – Just a pinch! It really brings this recipe together, taming the sharp, acidic flavors of the other ingredients.

What is the best hot pepper for salsa? ›

For mild salsa, use banana peppers, Anaheim peppers, and/or canned diced green chile peppers. For medium salsa, add one finely chopped jalapeno to the mix. For hot salsa, add two finely chopped jalapeno peppers or the even hotter serrano peppers.

Does sugar make salsa less spicy? ›

Adding a sweet ingredient can help counteract the heat and help to make salsa less spicy. But what? Start by adding a teaspoon of sugar to your hot salsa and mix it in thoroughly. Taste it and see if this has reduced the heat enough for you to eat the salsa.

Can you tone down spicy food? ›

Adding something sweet to a too-spicy dish is another great way to reduce spiciness. A sprinkle of sugar or honey should do the trick. Or add a touch of sweet ketchup. If it's a tomato-based sauce, stir in a little more tomato sauce and maybe a touch of sugar.

How do you reduce the acidity in salsa? ›

Prelief can help. Two caplets of Prelief can reduce 95% of the acid in 2TBSP of Chunky Salsa Medium. Pico de gallo, also known as salsa fresca, salsa picada, or salsa mexicana is made with fresh chopped tomatoes, lime juice, chilies (heat of your choice), onions, cilantro leaves.

How do you neutralize spicy chili? ›

Add more vegetables, protein, or starches, too — whatever ingredient you have extra of.
  1. Add dairy. Dairy is great at counteracting spiciness and can add a nice cooling effect. ...
  2. Add a sweetener. Like acid, sugar or other sweeteners add a different element of flavor that can tame spiciness. ...
  3. Add nut butter.

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