Authentic Mozambican super-hot peri-peri sauce recipe | Getaway Magazine (2024)

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Posted on 10 July 2012

This blog was very nearly about spareribs until I walked into the vegetable market of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. You see, I’m a massive peri-peri sauce fan and this market is full of it. Not only can you buy an assortment of jars, bottles and flasks filled with home-made concoctions, you can also get your hands on a seemingly endless supply and variety of the ingredients needed to make such a sauce.

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Take, for example, the African bird’s eye chilli (better known by its street name, the peri-peri chilli). In the space of a few metres and minutes, I’d stocked up on African bird’s eye chillies of all sorts: fresh green and red, dried, flakes, powdered, in a paste and as a sauce.

Next on my shopping list to make a peri-peri sauce was garlic, real Mozambique garlic that looks and tastes like garlic. This garlic isn’t modified, developed or bred to be bigger and better looking on supermarket shelves and ultimately tasteless.

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You need either lemon or lime juice, so I bought a kilogram of both (the lime juice went into my sauce, the lemons were used for gin and tonics). You’ll also need normal white spirit vinegar and olive oil (I had brought along a bottle of each from South Africa) as well as a bag of coarse sea salt and some paprika powder.

From the market, I hopped on a boat for a one-hour journey across the bay to Inhaca Island. My mission to make a peri-peri sauce wasn’t the chief reason for the visit to our neighbouring country; instead the goal was a mammoth peri-peri prawn braai session (Mozambique has an abundance of prawns and this braai featured tiger prawns as big as crayfish, with some king and queen prawns on the side). Done over hot coals, a prawn braais in about six minutes, but first you need to marinate them in the peri-peri sauce for an hour.

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The prawn feast was followed by a midday nap and I then caught a boat to one of the top snorkelling spots on Inhaca Island. While I didn’t manage to find Nemo, I did meet a few thousand of his friends in various colourful shapes and sizes.

I ended the day with local fishermen on their dhow for a sunset cruise (my definition) and fishing (their definition) and walked away with a big and very fresh couta, which was braaied with, you guessed it, peri-peri sauce.

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Nahyeeni Lodge I’ve braaied in a number of scenic places over the past few years and the facilities and view at Nahyeeni Lodge on Inhaca Island rank up there with the best. It’s essentially a very nice holiday house with a great braai area and deck overlooking Maputo Bay.

Super-hot Mozambican peri-peri sauce recipe

Use this to marinate prawns or to make Portuguese chicken, both of which go well with a Portuguese roll to mop up the sauce.


In a clean glass jar, combine:

  • ½ cup white vinegar
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 1 tot chilli powder
  • 1 tot paprika
  • 1 tot salt
  • 1 tot chopped garlic
  • 10 African bird’s eye chillies, finely chopped (don’t remove the seeds as this is where the heat is)


Put the lid on the jar, shake well and you’re done. The sauce improves with time and will be even better – and more fiery – after standing for an hour or even a day.

If you want the sauce hotter, add more chillies and chilli powder.

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Authentic Mozambican super-hot peri-peri sauce recipe | Getaway Magazine (2024)

FAQs

Is peri-peri from Mozambique? ›

It comes from Mozambique

PERi-PERi is an important part of Mozambique's history, as the sauce reflects the blend of cultures present in the country for centuries. PERi-PERi chicken eventually made its way across the border to South Africa, but it all started in Mozambique.

How do you use peri-peri hot sauce? ›

Marinade: Use peri-peri sauce as a marinade for meats. Allow the meat to soak in the sauce for a few hours or overnight to absorb its flavors fully. Grilling and Roasting: Brush peri-peri sauce onto meats, seafood, or vegetables before grilling or roasting. The heat of the grill enhances the sauce's smoky notes.

Is peri-peri sauce really spicy? ›

They range in heat, from medium to extra-hot, so start low if you're fearful of the tongue-torching capabilities of this condiment. If you're particularly wary of heat, "perinaise" (a combination of peri-peri sauce and mayonnaise) is a great milder option.

Is peri-peri sauce the same as chilli sauce? ›

Yes, they are. The spellings derive from different pronunciations of the chili pepper and sauce, from a variety of different African languages. Pili-pili is yet another spelling for this spicy chilli.

Is piri-piri Portuguese or African? ›

While Peri-Peri is a South African staple it's the Mozambique Portuguese who introduced it into the country and if you're visiting South Africa and want the best Peri-Peri experience it's the Portuguese restaurants to look for. Growing up in South Africa Johannesburg was the mecca for Peri-Peri chicken and prawns.

Is there a difference between piri-piri and peri peri? ›

Piri-piri, peri-peri or peli-peli is the name used in Portuguese and a number of African languages to describe the African bird's-eye chili. The variations in spelling derive from the various pronunciations of the word in parts of Africa, although 'piri-piri' is the correct spelling in Portuguese.

What is the hottest peri-peri sauce? ›

XX Hot PERi-PERi Sauce

Packed with fire, XX Hot PERi-PERi is for the serious heat seekers and not for the faint-hearted!

Should you refrigerate peri-peri sauce? ›

Prolong fresh flavor

The USDA's FoodKeeper app says that while hot sauce will maintain peak freshness for up to six months when stored at room temperature, it will last longer if stored in the fridge. Brigman echoes these guidelines, saying that refrigerated hot sauce typically lasts one to two years once opened.

Does peri-peri sauce go bad? ›

SHOP NOW: LEMON & GARLIC PERI-PERI HOT SAUCE

Pantry stored unopened hot sauce can last up to six months, while refrigerated unopened hot sauce lasts up to four times longer. A general rule depending on the sauce's ingredients.It will keep your hot sauce looking good.

Is peri-peri hotter than habanero? ›

Piri Piri chilli sits at 50,000 to 175,000 on the Scoville Heat scale. In regards to the Habanero, this barely compares to even the mildest Habanero type. However, in comparison to the jalapeños, it's 20 times hotter.

Is piri-piri the same as sriracha? ›

Nando's 'Medium' peri peri sauce tastes tangier than sriracha, due to its higher vinegar content. It also contains lemon and onion puree, which contributes to its bright flavor.

What to eat with peri-peri sauce? ›

Add a few drops to the top of avocado toast or scrambled eggs. Mix it with mayonnaise for a flavorful, spicy mayo to slather on sandwiches. Brush piri piri sauce on roasted chicken towards the end of cooking, when it has about five minutes left in the oven. Add it as a finisher for sautéed or roasted vegetables.

What is the most popular condiment in Portugal? ›

In Portugal, the sauce brand that most people easily recognized in 2023 was Guloso, with 84 percent of respondents knowing it. Heinz was the second most famous brand, as 83 percent of survey respondents recognized it.

Is peri-peri hotter than chipotle? ›

Opt for peri peri if you're seeking a spicier alternative to chipotle powder. Peri peri is translated into "very hot sauce" in English, and it definitely lives up to its namesake. With a Scoville rating 20 times hotter than a jalapeño pepper, this ground chipotle pepper substitute is not for the faint of heart.

What ethnicity is peri-peri sauce? ›

With roots in African and Portuguese culture, peri peri is a delicious combination of global cultures—with hot peppers, lemon, and garlic in the mix too. But peri peri's evangelists in Texas aren't Portuguese, and few are from South Africa. Instead, the grilled dish has become a cultural touchstone for Texas Muslims.

Where does Piri originate from? ›

Like all chilli peppers, Peri-Peri is descended from plants from the Americas, but it has grown in the wild in Africa for centuries and is now cultivated commercially in Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda.

Where did Pepe's piri-piri come from? ›

Pepe's Story starts in London in 2004. At the time, Piri Piri was virtually unknown in the UK and available in a handful of places. That was all about to change with the launch of our first store in London, which was called Pepe's Piri Piri.

What are Mozambique peri peri seeds? ›

PeriPeri Mozambique Chilli Seeds.

Considered to be the original PeriPeri. Great growers in hot climates and very very hardy. Bushes grow to about 1m3 and are laden with hundreds of fiery pods. Great for drying and sauces.

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