• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sunday Supper Movement logo
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Sunday Supper Pledge
    • Family Foodie TV
  • Browse Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Side Dishes
    • Best Dessert Recipes
  • Grilling Recipes
  • Cooking Chart
  • Newsletter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • Cookbooks
  • Media
  • Contact Us
  • The Sunday Supper Pledge
  • Follow us on social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Sauces » Peri Peri Sauce

    Peri Peri Sauce

    Published: Mar 18, 2023 Modified: Jun 1, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

    Share
    Pin
    Share

    Sunday Supper is an Amazon Associate and may receive compensation for purchases made through affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    You are sure to love my Peri Peri Sauce to spice up any dish with chicken, beef, or pork, and you can even use it for dipping! Plus this Portuguese sauce recipe only takes 10 minutes to make with minimal cooking needed.

    peri peri sauce in a glass jar with a spoon next to a plate of peri peri chicken
    Jump to:
    • Peri Peri Sauce Recipe
    • Piri Piri Sauce Ingredients
    • How to Make Peri Peri Sauce
    • What is Peri Peri Sauce?
    • Piri Piri Sauce FAQs
    • Portuguese Sauce Recipe Tips
    • How to Store Portuguese Sauce
    • How to Freeze Piri-Piri
    • Best Portuguese Recipes
    • Easy Sauce Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Peri Peri Sauce Recipe

    Also known as Piri Piri Sauce or Pili Pili Sauce, Peri Peri Sauce is a popular South African sauce that originates from Portuguese settlers discovering the bird’s eye chili of the area. If you’ve ever eaten at Nando’s, the South African restaurant chain, then you already know what the hype is about!

    My homemade Portuguese Piri Piri Sauce recipe is very close to the sauce you would get at Nando’s, but even better! Since you’re making this easy sauce right at home, you’re in full control over what goes into it. Make it as spicy as you like!

    Most often, this Nando’s inspired sauce pairs well with chicken, as the spicy, tangy depth of flavors of the sauce complements meat deliciously. If you haven’t tried making a homemade Piri Piri Sauce recipe yet, this is one you need to add to your list!

    My new favorite sauce. I love making it in batches and using it for a quick and easy meal.

    Jordan on Pinterest
    peri peri chicken in a white roasting pan with lemon wedges and chili slices

    Piri Piri Sauce Ingredients

    • Vegetable Oil
    • Garlic
    • Red Onion
    • Sweet Paprika
    • Roasted Peppers
    • Thai Red Chilis
    • Sherry Vinegar
    • Lemon Juice
    • Lemon
    • Brown Sugar
    • Dried Oregano
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    ingredients to make peri peri sauce with labels

    How to Make Peri Peri Sauce

    1. Heat oil in a pan. Saute garlic, onions, and paprika until softened.
      sauteing onions and garlic with paprika in a pan
    2. Add onion mixture, along with all other ingredients, to a blender.
      peri peri sauce ingredients in a small blender
    3. Blend until smooth. Use or serve, and enjoy!
      peri peri sauce in the blender

    What is Peri Peri Sauce?

    Peri peri sauce is a blend of African bird’s eye chilies or Peri Peri chilies, and spices that give this sauce a unique bold flavor. It is a hot sauce perfect for pairing with chicken, beef, and pork, or for using as a dipping sauce.

    peri peri chicken in a white dish with thai red chilies sliced on top

    Piri Piri Sauce FAQs

    What does Peri Peri sauce taste like?

    Peri peri sauce is loaded with garlicky, sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors. It is a boldly flavorful sauce that stands out in every dish it’s included in.

    Is peri peri the same as piri piri?

    There is no difference between piri piri sauce and peri peri. You may also hear the name “pili pili sauce”; all three variations of the name refer to the same recipe.

    Is peri peri sauce gluten-free?

    My recipe for piri piri sauce is 100% gluten-free and vegan, so anyone at the table can enjoy it.

    Portuguese Sauce Recipe Tips

    • If you’d like a milder sauce, reduce the amount of chili, and increase if you like it hot.
    • When using fire-roasted peppers from a jar, discard any liquid.
    • Smoked paprika can be used as a substitute for sweet paprika.
    • If the sauce is too thick for your liking, you can thin it down with olive oil or water.

    How to Store Portuguese Sauce

    Store in an airtight container for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator, and 2 months in the freezer.

    How to Freeze Piri-Piri

    To freeze the leftover sauce, allow it to cool completely, then add it to a freezer-safe zip-lock bag. Label with the date and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    Best Portuguese Recipes

    • Peri Peri Chicken
    • Portuguese Beef Skewers
    • Potatoes and Chorizo
    • Shrimp Empanadas
    • Portuguese Rice
    peri peri sauce in a glass jar with a spoon beside a plate of chicken

    Easy Sauce Recipes

    • Spicy Chicken Marinade
    • Remoulade Sauce
    • Yum Yum Sauce
    • Lemon Butter Sauce

    📋 Recipe

    peri peri sauce in a glass jar with a spoon next to a plate of peri peri chicken

    Peri Peri Sauce

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to make peri peri sauce to use with chicken, beef, pork, or as a dipping sauce! This easy peri peri sauce recipe is spicy and delicious!
    4.82 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine South African
    Servings 8 serves
    Calories 64 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 4 cloves garlic crushed
    • ½ medium red onion diced
    • 2 tablespoons sweet paprika (see note 3)
    • 2 large fire roasted peppers (see note 2)
    • 6-7 Thai red chilis seeds removed and finely chopped (see note 1)
    • ¼ cup sherry vinegar  or red wine vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
    • Zest of one lemon
    • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
    • 4 teaspoons dried oregano
    • 1½ teaspoons salt
    • 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil then saute the onions, garlic and paprika until softened (about 5 minutes).
      2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 4 cloves garlic, ½ medium red onion, 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
      sauteing onions and garlic with paprika in a pan
    • Add the onion mixture along with all the other ingredients to a blender.
      2 large fire roasted peppers, 6-7 Thai red chilis, ¼ cup sherry vinegar, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, Zest of one lemon, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, 4 teaspoons dried oregano, 1½ teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
      peri peri sauce ingredients in a small blender
    • Blend until nearly smooth.
      peri peri sauce in the blender

    Video

    Notes

    • Feel free to adjust the heat to your taste by adding more or less chili peppers. This Peri Peri sauce recipe is medium-hot.
    • When using fire roasted peppers from a jar, discard the liquid they came in.
    • You can used smoked paprika if you prefer.
    • If you want to make batches of Peri Peri Sauce and store them, make sure to use sterilized bottles and use proper canning procedure. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 568mgPotassium: 196mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1250IUVitamin C: 55.9mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1.2mg
    Keyword peri peri sauce, peri peri sauce recipe, Piri Piri Sauce
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!

    Photos by Marie Roffey.

    Share
    Pin
    Share

    More Sauces

    • chicken wing dipping inside blue cheese
      Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
    • lemon butter chicken tenders cooking in pan with sauce
      Lemon Butter Sauce
    • a nest of pasta carbonara on a plate
      Pasta Carbonara Recipe
    • overhead photo of sugo in a dutch oven next to tomatoes and parmesan
      Sugo Recipe
    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary says

      April 08, 2020 at 3:34 pm

      We really liked the peri peri sauce! I marinated and baked boneless, skinless chicken thighs and they turned out great. I have some wild salmon in the freezer and am thinking of trying the sauce on it.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        April 08, 2020 at 3:36 pm

        That sounds amazing, Mary! Thank you so much for sharing with us. We would love to hear how it pairs with the salmon. It sounds like an incredible combo!

        Reply

    Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Leave a rating!




    Primary Sidebar

    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table!

    • Family Foodie Facebook
    • Sunday Supper Pinterest
    • Sunday Supper Youtube
    • Family Foodie Instagram
    • Family Foodie Tiktok

    Sunday Dinner Ideas

    • Southern smothered pork chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pork Chop Recipes
    • Overhead shot of beef chuck roast recipe on a white platter with carrots and fresh herbs
      Beef Chuck Roast
    • up close baked portobello mushrooms surrounded by lettuce
      Portobello Mushroom Recipe
    • A fork with a bite of air fryer pork chops
      Air Fryer Pork Chops
    • Candied Bacon
    • Elotes Mexicanos on a white platter
      Elote Recipe

    Footer

    logos of brands sunday supper has worked with

    Connect with us!

    Join us around our family table by following us on social media, including our Sunday Supper Recipes group!

    • facebook
    • instagram
    • pinterest
    • youtube

    Our Brands

    Follow all of our websites for the best recipes catered to your needs!

    Sunday Supper Movement |
    Best Beef Recipes | Easy Sauce Recipes | Side Dish Ideas | Pork Recipe Ideas

    About Us

    • Contact Us
    • About Isabel and Sunday Supper
    • Our Partners
    • Disclosure & Privacy
    • No AI

    ↑ back to top

    Sunday Supper Logo

    Copyright 2012-2023 Sunday Supper Movement®, All Rights Reserved.