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{{Short description|Spicy sauce native to Yucatán peninsula}}
{{Infobox food|image=Xnipec yucateco.jpg|image_size=280px|image_alt=An image of xnipec sauce|type=[[Mexican cuisine|Mexican]] [[sauce]]|national_cuisine=[[Cuisine of Yucatán]]|country={{MEX}}|main_ingredient=[[habanero pepper]] · [[orange juice]] · [[onion]]|name=Xnipec}}
'''Xnipec''' ({{IPA-myn|ʃni'pek}}; meaning 'dog snout')<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|year=1980|title=Xnipek|encyclopedia=Diccionario Maya Cordemex|last=Barrera Vásquez|first=A.|author-link=Alfredo Barrera Vásquez|publication-place=[[Mérida, Yucatán]]|language=es}}</ref> is a spicy sauce native to the [[Yucatán Peninsula|Yucatán peninsula]], made with [[habanero pepper]], purple onion, [[bitter orange]] juice and salt. Sometimes [[oregano]], vinegar, bay leaf, [[coriander]] or pepper are also used.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Avelino|first=G.|date=2017-04-17|title=Receta de Salsa X-nipec|url=http://mexicolindoyquerido.com.mx/mexico2/technology/35-recetas-de-salsas-mexicanas/1502-receta-de-salsa-x-nipec|access-date=2021-06-18|website=México Lindo y Querido|language=es}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=X-Ni-Pek, salsa con chile habanero|url=http://www.mexican-authentic-recipes.com/salsa_y_dips-x_ni_pek.html|access-date=2021-06-18|website=Mexican Authentic Recipes|language=en}}</ref> If [[Sweet Orange|sweet orange]] is used, [[lemon juice]] can be added to acidify it; if sour orange is used, it is not necessary.
It is also called in a generic way '''Yucatecan sauce''' (''salsa yucateca'')<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018|title=Salsa yucateca de habanero|url=https://allmexrecipes.com.mx/receta/salsa-yucateca-de-habanero|access-date=2021-06-18|website=AllMexRecipes|language=es}}</ref> or '''pickled onions''' (''cebollas encurtidas'').<ref>{{Cite web|last=Comidas de un Foráneo|date=2019-09-11|title=Cebollitas con Habanero {{!}} Cebollas encurtidas|url=https://cocinaycomparte.com/recetas/cebollitas-con-habanero-cebollas-encurtidas|access-date=2021-06-18|website=Cocina y comparte|language=es}}</ref> Since the Mayan-Spanish transliteration is not standardized, the ways of writing are various; other common spellings are ''ixnipec'', ''xnepec'', ''xni'pek'', ''ni'peek'', ''x-ni-pec'', ''xnepek'', etc., where ''peek'' means 'dog' and ''ni'' means 'nose'.
It is similar to another very popular sauce in Mexico, [[pico de gallo]], and it is common in the peninsular cuisine, where it is used regularly to accompany various typical dishes, including [[chocolomo]], [[salpicón]], [[poc chuc]], and [[tikin xic]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Salsa xnipec|encyclopedia=Diccionario enciclopédico de la Gastronomía Mexicana|url=https://laroussecocina.mx/palabra/salsa-xnipec/|access-date=2021-06-17|last=Muñoz Zurita|first=R.|date=2012|author-link=Ricardo Muñoz Zurita}}</ref> It is the traditional accompaniment to [[cochinita pibil]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Salsa yucateca de habanero|work=[[People Magazine]]|url=https://peopleenespanol.com/recetas/9594-salsa-yucateca-de-habanero/|access-date=2021-06-17}}</ref> as well as [[panucho]]s.<ref name=":0" />
The habanero chili is considered one of the hottest according to the [[Scoville scale]], although the amount of chili added is to taste. Because it is so spicy, anyone who dares to try it is warned that their nose will sweat like a dog's, hence its name.<ref name=":0" />
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Cuisine of Yucatán]]
[[Category:Hot sauces]]
[[Category:Yucatec Maya language]]
[[Category:Mexican sauces]]
[[Category:Citrus dishes]]