Peri peri sauce, also known as piri piri sauce, is a spicy and flavorful sauce that originated in Portugal and is commonly used in African and Portuguese cuisines. It is made from a variety of chili peppers, herbs, spices, citrus, and vinegar. Here’s a basic recipe to make peri peri sauce at home:Ingredients:
- 10-12 red chili peppers (such as bird’s eye chilies or African bird’s eye chilies), stemmed and deseeded for a milder sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- Zest and juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt, to taste
Instructions:
- If you prefer a milder sauce, deseed the chili peppers by slicing them lengthwise and scraping out the seeds and membranes. Wear gloves to protect your hands from the chili peppers.
- In a blender or food processor, combine the chili peppers, garlic cloves, chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, ground black pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, lime zest, lime juice, red wine vinegar, and olive oil.
- Blend the ingredients until smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender or food processor as needed.
- Taste the peri peri sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt as needed.
- Transfer the peri peri sauce to a jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid.
- Store the peri peri sauce in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks. The flavors will continue to develop over time.
- Use peri peri sauce as a marinade for chicken, beef, or seafood, or as a condiment for grilled meats, sandwiches, wraps, or roasted vegetables.
Feel free to customize the peri peri sauce to your taste by adjusting the amount of chili peppers for desired spiciness and adding other ingredients such as fresh herbs or additional spices. Enjoy the vibrant flavors of homemade peri peri sauce in your favorite dishes!
