Peri peri (piri piri) sauce brings vibrant, piquant taste of Africa to your cooking. Use it to baste or marinate chicken for a Nando’s-style ‘fakeaway’, or as a lively dip or topping for all sorts of barbecue dishes. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Peri Peri A Global Recipe!
Peri Peri sauce is a truly global recipe. Portuguese explorers brought capsicum frutescens from Brazil back to Europe.
Merchants and colonists then took the malagueta pepper to East Africa, to modern Mozambique. The plants naturalized there and evolved into the African Birds Eye or Peri Peri chilli, on which this sauce is based.
The peri peri dishes we know today arise from that meeting of cultures and cuisines. Today this African fusion food is strongly associated with South Africa. Peri peri has become immensely popular in the UK with the spread of South African restaurant chain Nando’s.
This fresh-tasting peri peri sauce recipe is easy to make with familiar ingredients. It’s great for an economical home-made ‘fakeaway’ Nando’s-style grilled chicken, so use it for copycat versions of your eat-out favourites. It’s also delicious on barbecue dishes or as a dip or burger sauce.
Peri peri makes a refreshing change from curry or stir fries, and we love it for a spicy reminder of the sun on grey winter days.
This sauce keeps well in the fridge, so you can make enough for two or three meals for two over a fortnight. Any leftover sauce can be frozen.
How to Make Nando’s-Style Peri Peri Sauce
Step two – Assemble all the ingredients. You can roast and then peel fresh red peppers, or for ease and speed you can use jarred ones.
Step Two – Soak the peri peri chillis in boiling water before you start, and leave them until the water has cooled. This can be done in advance if you are going to be short of time when you come to cook.
We usually use dried chillies, but if you can get fresh use them and skip the soaking stage.
Step three – Chop the onions and garlic, then zest and juice the lemons.
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a shallow casserole or large frying pan. Fry the onion and garlic until translucent. Add the spices and oregano, and fry for a further couple of minutes.
Cook’s tip – when zesting and juicing lemons, and other citrus, give the fruit a good roll around the worktop pressing firmly with the heel of your hand, you will get considerably more juice out.
Always zest the whole fruit before you cut it in half to juice. If you juice first it is almost impossible to zest after.
Step four – Put the onion and garlic mixture in a blender or food processor. Add the soaked peri peri chillis (drain them first), the roasted red peppers, lemon juice and zest, sugar, and cider vinegar.
Step five – Blend the mixture well, until there are no large chunks.
Step six – Transfer the mixture back to the pan. Add the bay leaves and then bring up to a gentle simmer.
Step seven – Cook the mixture for about 20 minutes, until it thickens and has reduced by a half to a third. When it is ready, a wooden spoon or spatula should leave a trace on the bottom of the pan.
Step eight – Transfer the mixture back to the food processor. Then blitz again, slowly adding the olive oil as you do so. It is important to add the oil slowly so the mixture emulsifies so you get a lovely smooth sauce.
Step nine – Blitz to a smooth paste. The peri peri sauce will take on a vibrant orange-yellow colour. It’s now ready to use. Pour the mixture into a jam jar, and keep in the fridge, where it will last for a week. For longer storage, freeze in individual portions in an ice cube tray. I find that freezing this sauce does reduce the heat, so if it’s turned out to be too spicy for you, try giving it a spell in the freezer.
Hints & Tips for Peri Peri Sauce
- Chillis do vary in fierceness, even when they are the same variety. Taste and check as that you are happy with the degree of heat, and adjust to suit your taste.
- If you can’t get African peri peri chillis, Brazilian malaguetinhas are very similar. Alternatively, just use another chilli such as Asian bird’s eye chillis.
- For speed and ease we use jarred roasted red peppers for this, you can of course roast your own from fresh if you prefer.
- Try lime juice instead of lemon or add a couple of tablespoons of coconut milk.
- This Nando’s style peri peri sauce will keep for about two weeks in the fridge. Freeze leftovers into individual portions in an ice tray.
Serving Suggestions
- Use it to baste or marinate chicken.
- If you love the heat serve a dollop on my homemade peri peri chicken.
- Use as a dip for peri peri chips (fries) alongside a burger or on baked sweet potatoes, or on all sorts of grilled food.
- This peri peri sauce recipe is suitable for vegetarians and vegans – why not try it with halloumi vegetable skewers or vegeburgers?
- Serve along side some homemade Nandos rice.
- Add to homemade BBQ sauce to give it a kick
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Peri Peri Sauce
Ingredients
- 10 peri peri (African bird's eye) chillis or other hot chillis (dried )
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 onion
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 roasted red peppers (we use bottled ones for convenience)
- 2 lemons (juice and zest)
- 1 tbs sugar
- 100 ml cider vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- pinch salt
- 80 ml olive oil
Instructions
- Soak the chillis in half a cup of boiling water until the water has cooled. You can leave them soaking overnight if you wish.
- Chop the onion and garlic into large pieces.
- Heat the one tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan or shallow casserole dish. Gently fry the onion and garlic until it is translucent. Then add the herbs and spices (except for the bay leaves). Fry for a couple of minutes longer.
- Transfer the fried onions to a blender. Add the soaked peri peri chillis (drained – discard the soaking water), the roasted red peppers, lemons juice and zest, sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Blend until nearly smooth, but still with a little texture.
- Return the mixture to the frying pan or casserole. Add the bay leaves, and heat on a low-medium heat until just simmering. Turn down to a very gently simmer.
- Cook the mixture for about 20 minutes, until it thickens and has reduced by a half to a third. When it is ready, a wooden spoon or spatula should leave a trace on the bottom of the pan.
- Transfer the mixture back to the food processor. Then blitz again, slowly adding the 80ml of olive oil as you do so. It is important to add the oil slowly so the mixture emulsifies so you get a lovely smooth sauce.
- Blitz to a smooth paste. The peri peri sauce will take on a vibrant orange-yellow colour. It’s now ready to use. Pour the mixture into a jam jar, and keep in the fridge, where it will last for a week.
Notes
- Chillis do vary in fierceness, even when they are the same variety. Taste and check as that you are happy with the degree of heat, and adjust to suit your taste.
- If you can’t get African peri peri chillis, Brazilian malaguetinhas are very similar. Alternatively, just use another chilli such as Asian bird’s eye chillis.
- For speed and ease we use jarred roasted red peppers for this, you can of course roast your own from fresh if you prefer.
- Try lime juice instead of lemon or add a couple of tablespoons of coconut milk.
- This Nando’s style peri peri sauce will keep for about two weeks in the fridge. Freeze leftovers into individual portions in an ice tray.
- Use it to baste or marinate chicken.
- Use as a dip for chips (fries) alongside a burger or on baked sweet potatoes, or on all sorts of grilled food.
- This peri peri sauce recipe is suitable for vegetarians and vegans – why not try it with halloumi vegetable skewers or vegeburgers?
- This recipe is 3 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion
For more chicken fakeaway recipes, try these Sticky Asian Chicken Wings or these Barbecue Chicken Thighs.
If you love chilli in your sauce, we think you will love this Easy No-Cook Kebab-Shop Chilli Sauce.
Hollie Jackson
I really love Peri Peri sauce, but had no idea it came from Africa. I love that I can make my own, as I find shop bought can be really pricey.
Maggie T
This is the perfect dip for movie snacks. It goes really well with our homemade parsnip chips. A winner with all the family.
Jamie
This is such a flavorful sauce! I love all the spices and chili in here. Definitely gives it a kick!
Patrice
This looks delicious! Enjoyed reading about the history of this sauce and your many tips.
Genevieve
This looks like such a unique recipe! So colorful too!
Kelly Anthony
I love how versatile this peri peri sauce. It will taste amazing on just about anything!
Helen
it does!
Jen
This may sound weird but I love Peri peri sauce as a fry dip, haha! It’s so good and I’m obsessed
Helen
I like it with a bit of mayo as a fry dip.
Nina
Living so close to a Nandos is so tempting but a recipe like this will be the perfect excuse to resist! Thank you for sharing!
rhian westbury
I love nando’s, but not too hot a spice. So i’d have to tone down the chilli’s, but my dad would love it as hot as possible x
Helen
This is the beauty of making your own – complete control over the heat level!
Yeah Lifestyle
I love eating Nando’s Peri Peri chicken and have always wanted to learn how to make it, so will give your recipe a go
Helen
It is so much better to make your own!
Jenni
I have only recently discovered Nandos, but I absolutely love it! This sounds amazing and I will definitely be giving it a go!
Helen
Far better and certainly more frugal to make your own!
Natasha Mairs
This sauce looks delicious! And much healthier than the shop bought ones. Will have to save this recipe
Becky
This peri peri sauce like delicious! If love to try it on a homemade burger
Jess Howliston
Oo this looks absolutely delicious, thanks for sharing! I have to admit I have never been to Nandos but I do love trying out different “fakeaways” at home so will definitely add this to our list to try!
Kara Guppy
I love peri peri sauce but must admit I tend to use the premade stuff. Will have to try and make my own
Rachael
Oh my days! This looks amazing, definitely putting this on the list to make.m over Christmas. My other half would love me if I made this for him. Fab recipe, thanks.
Helen
Homemade is so much better than buying!
Sarah | Boo Roo and Tigger Too
This would make a wonderful gift idea for my husband’s friends. I’m sure they live in Nandos
Helen
it would be the perfect gift!
Emily Underworld
Ooh I love Nando’s Peri-Peri Sauce! I definitely need to make my own version, I’ll try this out ASAP.
Helen
This is so good and so addictive!
Anosa
I am sold, I never thought I would ever consider making sauces at home specifically Nandos inspired ones.
Helen
it is SO good!
Marisol
Hi! We don’t have lemons where I live, just limes, so I used those (+ the cider vinegar) but even after letting it simmer the taste is way too sour. Do you know how I can fix it?
Thanks!
Helen
Possibly a touch of sugar, maple syrup or honey. It will also mellow with a day or two in the fridge.
Emel
Hi, just about to try this recipe. I noticed olive oil is mentioned twice, once as 1 tbsp olive oil, second as 80 ml olive oil. Steps only mentions adding the oil once so will add the 80ml at the start. Hope it works!
Helen
thanks for bringing this to my attention. I’ve updated the recipes card to reflect the rest of the post.
Teri
Hi there. When you add the chilles, do you also add the water they were soaking in or drain them first? Thank you!
Helen Best-Shaw
Great question – you drain them – I’ll update the post for clarity.