Peri-Peri Sauce – Immaculate Bites

What Is Peri Peri? 

The Portuguese brought this pepper to Africa from South America, and the name pilipili (pili-pili, piri-piri, and peri-peri) simply means pepper in Swahili. We also call it African bird’s eye chili. The classic piri-piri or peri-peri sauce recipe contains red chili peppers, garlic, oil, and acid (which could be from lemon or vinegar). This sauce delivers a spicy condiment or marinade as an essential part of our food preparation.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Fresh Red Chili Peppers – Any hot red peppers that add flavor or heat to the sauce work fine: Piri piri, Thai bird’s eye peppers, cayenne, serrano, scotch bonnet, habanero, etc., whatever you can find. A red bell pepper doesn’t hurt, either.
2. Jalapeños – The green has more flavor, while the red has more heat. Mexican cuisine is the most famous for this mildly spicy pepper, but it’s also widely used in other cuisines.
3. Seasonings – Garlic, basil, oregano, onions, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper smooth everything out for a robust and savory flavor.
4. Olive Oil provides a slightly fruity flavor. It’s my go-to oil for dressings and sauces like this one.
5. Acidity – Lemon juice and dark vinegar balance the spice and oil for a perfect hot sauce. Apple cider vinegar adds a touch of fruitiness if that’s what you have on hand.

How to Make Peri-Peri Sauce

• Puree the red peppers, jalapeno pepper, chili peppers, garlic, basil, oregano, and onions in a food processor or blender. 
• Blend. Add olive oil to facilitate blending. Then add smoked paprika, lemon juice, black pepper, and vinegar and mix well. Adjust for salt and seasonings. Refrigerate and use when ready.

Recipe Alternatives

1. Ginger adds more zing and spice to piri-piri sauce, along with subtle sweetness and a peppery flavor.
2. Make it mild. Use red bell peppers, fresh mild paprika, or any other sweet pepper for a heat-free version.
3. Garlic peri peri sauce. Double or triple the garlic for an even more flavorful sauce.
4. Lemon zest. Add the zest from your lemon for a little extra.

Recipe Tips

1. Saute savory ingredients like onions and garlic to give the sauce a caramelized flavor.
2. Roasting your fresh peppers adds an extra layer of flavor. Yum!
3. If you only have dried chili peppers, soak them in hot water for 10-15 minutes, drain, and puree as you would fresh.

Make-Ahead, Serving, and Storage Instructions

This recipe is an ideal make-ahead because it lasts about 2 weeks in the fridge. I’ve heard it will last for six weeks because the vinegar acts as a preservative, but my jar is always empty before two weeks are up.

To freeze it for later, pour the sauce into ice cube trays. As soon as it freezes solid, pop the cubes into a freezer ziploc bag for tablespoon portions of hot sauce. You can freeze it for up to six months.

How to Use Peri Peri Sauce

The spicy goodness of this hot sauce pairs excellently with roasts, skewers, burgers, wraps, and fried foods. Peri-Peri marinated chicken skewers and peri-peri chicken are two classics. But you can replace the hot sauce in any recipe with peri peri sauce for a delicious twist. Nashville hot chicken and African meatballs in tomato sauce are excellent dishes to add a spoonful to.

More Easy Sauces to Spice up Your Life

1. White BBQ Sauce
2. Enchilada Sauce
3. Tzatziki Sauce
4. Homemade Buffalo Sauce
5. Chimichurri Sauce

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was first published in June 2014 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video