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Have a taste for a little extra spice? Try this top-notch homemade peri peri sauce recipe and experiment with different flavor profiles.
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🌶️ What is Peri Peri Sauce?
Peri peri sauce, also known as piri piri sauce, is a complex and versatile hot sauce made from African bird's eye chiles, which are native to Mozambique. These small red chilies are also known by the name pili-pili. Peri peri is a complex and versatile sauce with roots in Africa, by way of Portuguese settlers.
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Super easy to make.
- Can be used many different ways.
- Medium spicy. A perfect fit for true hot sauce lovers!
- Naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free and free of added sugar.
📓 Ingredient Notes
Peri Peri Chiles: You can use dried or fresh peri-peri chiles (African bird's eye chilies) in this recipe. Dried chiles come out slightly spicier and smokier, and fresh chiles offer just that -- a fresher flavor.
Fresh Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves greatly complement these particular chili peppers and I do not recommend omitting them.
Olive Oil: A good quality olive oil will adds flavor and texture to this delicious sauce.
Lemon Juice: The acidity of lemon really adds additional flavor to the sauce mixture, while also cutting some of the heat.
Fresh Cilantro: Cilantro really adds some complexity and freshness to the flavor notes and I do not recommend omitting it.
Salt: A half teaspoon salt is just enough to enhance all flavors in this recipe.
🥣 Instructions
- If using dried chiles, you will soak them in boiling water prior to using. If using fresh chiles, you will skip this step.
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
- Enjoy!
🍴How to Use Peri Peri Sauce
Salad: Mix one part perr-peri sauce with one part mayo or yogurt for a delicious salad dressing recipe.
Marinades: Peri peri sauce makes a wonderful marinade for vegetables, tofu, tempeh and more.
Dipping: Peri peri sauce makes a great dipping sauce for french fries and other fried foods.
Drizzle: Over roasted veggies, burrito bowls, tacos, nachos, wraps -- you name it!
❓FAQ
African.
Peri peri sauce has a medium level of heat.
No. The African bird's eye chile and Thai bird's eye chili have a lot of similarities, but are not the same chili pepper.
Keep peri peri sauce stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.
💭 Top Tip
The quality of the peri-peri chiles and the olive oil can greatly impact the taste and quality of this hot sauce. If you are able, indulge in organic chiles and organic cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil for best results.
📗 Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners
Turn up the heat on any dish with homemade hot sauce!
Nearly every corner of the planet has its own beloved hot sauce. This beginner-friendly hot sauce cookbook has everything you need to start making classic hot sauces and regional favorites from scratch. What sets this hot sauce recipe book apart:
- Intro to hot sauces—Learn the fundamentals for making homemade hot sauces, the fermented and non-fermented methods, and what you need to know about chiles—from tame poblanos to scorching habañeros.
- Stocking the saucy kitchen—Discover the must-have staples you should stock in your pantry along with the equipment you’ll need and tips for preserving and storing your creations.
- Regional flavors—Go on a heated world tour with recipes divided by regions and explore different palates and spice profiles. Plus you’ll find more than a dozen recipes for cooking with hot sauces you made.
Spice it up in the kitchen with the easy-to-make recipes in the hot sauce cookbook, including this amazing peri-peri sauce!
🔥 More Delicious Hot Sauce Recipes
📖 Recipe
Amazing Homemade Peri Peri Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 dried peri peri chiles or 10 fresh
- 4 garlic cloves
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl, cover the chiles with boiling water and let sit for 10 minutes (skip this step if using fresh chiles).
- Drain the chiles, then transfer to a blender or food processor. Add the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro and salt. Blend until smooth, leaving a vent to allow steam to escape.
- Enjoy right away or keep stored in the fridge for up to one month. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Equipment
Tara says
I love how easy this spicy sauce is! So versatile, too!
Mairead says
Peri peri sauce is a favorite in my home. Thank you for such a detailed tutorial and information about the origins of this tasty sauce.
Dionne says
I could use this sauce with so many of my favorite dishes. Yum!
Andrea says
This homemade peri peri sauce sounds fantastic. It pairs perfectly with my grilled chicken or steak.
Laressa says
love this marinade for chicken skewers. thanks for sharing!
Farah Maizar says
Love peri peri sauce how cool that it's so easy to make at home! Thanks for this recipe! So excited to try it out
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
We love to barbecue so this will be perfect to keep in the fridge and have with grilled meats.
veenaazmanov says
Would love to have some in my Kitchen. This is a must try recipe. Flavorful and perfect for my recipes.