Peri Peri

This EASY Homemade Nando’s Peri Peri sauce recipe will add some African Birdseye Chilli and Portuguese flavour to your food! NO COOKING required and a helpful video tutorial provided so you can start making your better than take out Nando’s recipes at home!

What is Peri Peri sauce?

Peri Peri sauce is a spicy hot sauce traditionally made with the key ingredient African Birds eye chilli. It also has a tangy flavour with the addition of fresh lemon juice. Peri Peri sauce can be used as a marinade and is most commonly paired with chicken, as you will find in the well know restaurant chain Nando’s. Peri Peri can also be referred to as piri piri or pili pili in parts of Africa.

What is Nando’s?

Nando’s is a global restaurant chain specialising in grilled Peri Peri chicken.  The chain was founded by Fernando Duarte & Robbie after visiting a Portuguese restaurant in the South Africa in 1987. They where inspired by the succulent spicy Peri Peri chicken served and brought the idea back to London to start their own restaurant venture. Often referred to as “getting a cheeky Nando’s” you can find a Nando’s restaurant on most high streets, it is pretty popular in Britain, though the chain can be found worldwide. Popular dishes to enjoy via takeout  or dining in included grilled Peri Peri; whole spatchcock chicken, chicken wings, butterfly chicken breast, chicken burgers, wraps, Peri Peri salt seasoned fries, spicy rice and selection of peri peri sauce flavours varying in spices.

What ingredients are in Nando’s Peri Peri sauce recipe?

There are so many variations of Peri Peri sauce recipes, this one is close to the traditional African recipe from Mozambique. Its fiery, tangy, thick and has a beautiful vibrant orange colour. You can adjust the chilli level to add more spice or include more fresh herbs to replicate the Nando’s wild and herb sauce. Or add fresh mango slices and lime juice to replicate the mango and lime flavour. The possibilities are endless! Here’s the base ingredients you will need first;

• Paprika
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Dried basil
• Dried thyme
• Oregano
• Small red onion
• Fresh parsley
• Garlic cloves
• Green chilli
• Bay leaved
• Sweet red bell pepper
• Lemon Peel
• Lemon Juice
• White wine vinegar
• Vegetable oil
• Cold water

HELPFUL KITCHEN TOOLS

Here are a few key basic kitchen tools you will need to make this recipe:

• A blender
• Airtight glass sauce bottles
• You can also store the sauce in an airtight container  
• A funnel to help pour the sauce into bottles

How to make Nando’s Peri Peri sauce?

Peri Peri sauce is super easy to make in pretty much 2 steps! YES, its that easy as the fresh sauce does not need to be cooked.

1. Add the Peri Peri sauce ingredients a blender
2. Pour the sauce into an airtight bottle and keep refrigerated

Peri Peri Sauce step by step recipe video tutorial

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Homemade Nandos Peri Peri sauce recipe tips

Type of chillies – If you cannot find African Birds eye Chillies, use any fresh red chillies that are hot. Test your chillies before you blend as every chilli is different. If your still not sure add one chilli at a time to the blender so you can really control the spice level to your preferred taste.

Consistency of the Peri Peri sauce – If your sauce is too thick you can either add more oil or water to the sauce, this will also reduce the spice level. So feel free to add more chillies to keep the sauce spicy.

How to preseve the sauce – Peri Peri sauce can keep for up to two weeks in the fridge. As it is a fresh homemade sauce, the sauce should be refrigerated and not stored in a cupboard at an ambient temperature. Shake the bottle before each use, as the sauce does separate due to no artificial preservatives or artificial stabilisers in the recipe.

Type of bottle to store the Peri Peri sauce – an airtight glass bottles are best for preserving the Peri Peri sauce.

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How to use Nando’s Peri Peri sauce?

Peri Peri sauce can be used in 3 ways mainly either as a marinade, baste or a dipping sauce.

Peri Peri Sauce Marinade – Marinate seafood, chicken, fish, pork or even vegetables with rich Peri Peri sauce. It packs a punch of flavour and penetrates well into meat. Marinating with Peri Peri sauce over night gives you the best result when cooking I find.

Peri Peri Sauce Baste – Peri Peri sauce brushed over a grilled chicken on the barbeque or basting a oven roast chicken will literally boost the flavour and juiciness of the meat. The rich sauce works well as a baste brushed over food just before you’re ready to plate, giving you a spicy birds eye chilli flavour kick.

Peri Peri Dipping Sauce – the perfect alternative hot sauce! You can use Peri Peri sauce as a dip, best paired with fries / chips. If you want a cooler flavour you can add a couple of tablespoons to mayonnaise and you will have a delicious Peri Peri infused mayo. This is also known as Perinaise at Nando’s.

Where is Peri Peri sauce from?

Peri Peri or sometimes referred to as piri piri or pili pili has influences from Portugal and Africa. Mozambique have a traditional Peri Peri sauce recipe which is served up on beaches, brushed over amazing grilled chicken. Portuguese settlers in Mozambique influenced the now globally know sauce. The Peri Peri recipe also has its origins in other African countries, such as South Africa, Angola, and Namibia.

How long can you keep Peri Peri sauce in the fridge?

Peri Peri sauce can keep for up to two weeks in the fridge. As it is a fresh homemade sauce, the sauce should be refrigerated and not stored in a cupboard at an ambient temperature. The acidity from the lemons and the spice from the chillies helps to extend the sauces shelf life. Shake the bottle before each use, as the sauce does separate due to no artificial preservatives or artificial stabilisers in the recipe.

Is Nando’s sauce vegan?

YES, this peri peri sauce is completely vegan. The ingredients include spices, natural oils, and fresh vegetables/herbs. Peri Peri sauce works well with vegetables. Add some peri peri sauce to some roasted vegetables or baste over a juicy veggie burger!

Thank you so much for reading along. I hope you making your Homemade Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce.

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