Easy Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce Recipe

Portugal’s Nando’s peri peri sauce is used in Portuguese, African, and Brazilian cooking. Crushed peri peri chile peppers, garlic, lemon juice, salt, onion, oil, and vinegar make the sauce. It’s a condiment, marinade, and dipping sauce for poultry, meat, and seafood.

The South African eatery chain Nando’s popularized peri-peri sauce recipe and flame-grilled chicken marinated in it. Nando’s peri peri sauce is sold in shops worldwide.

Homemade Peri Peri Sauce

Nando’s peri-peri sauce had the right mix of heat, acidity, and savory flavors. It felt different.

Peri-peri sauce is made from African bird’s eye chiles, which I had never cooked with before. I wanted to make the sauce myself to see if I could reproduce the flavors.

Nando’s peri-peri sauce was made easily. I chopped chilies, onions, garlic, and other items after washing and drying them. I tasted and seasoned the sauce after mixing.

The sauce was ideal for marinating chicken, dipping fries, and topping burgers and sandwiches. My homemade Nando’s peri-peri sauce has become a cooking staple.

Peri Peri Sauce Ingredients

To make Nando’s peri-peri sauce, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 cup of peri-peri chilies (fresh or dried)
• 1/2 cup of chopped onion
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 1/4 cup of white vinegar
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Note: You can adjust the number of chili peppers according to your preferred level of spiciness. If you’re not a fan of too much heat, start with a smaller amount of chili peppers and add more gradually.

How to Make Peri Peri Sauce

Step 1: Preparing the Chilies

Start by washing and drying the peri-peri chilies. If you’re using fresh chilies, remove the stems and chop them into small pieces. If you’re using dried chilies, soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes until they’re soft, then remove the stems and chop them into small pieces.

Step 2: Blending the Ingredients

Next, add the chopped chilies, onion, lemon juice, white vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and salt to a blender. Blend the ingredients until you get a smooth sauce. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little bit of water to thin it out.

Step 3: Adjusting the Seasoning

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you want it to be spicier, add more chili peppers. If you want it to be more acidic, add more lemon juice or vinegar. If you want it to be more garlicky, add more garlic.

Step 4: Storing the Sauce

Transfer the sauce to a glass jar or bottle and store it in the refrigerator. The sauce will last for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Peri Peri Sauce Recipe FAQs

Peri Peri Sauce Variations

Grill or roast the chilies before blending them into the sauce for a smoky taste. Smoked paprika adds more aroma.

Add honey or brown sugar to the sauce to sweeten and temper the spice. To make the sauce creamier and less spicy, add mayonnaise or Greek yogurt.

To brighten the sauce, add more lemon or lime juice. Add minced cilantro or parsley to the sauce for a fresh taste. Add chopped mango or pineapple to offset the heat.

How do I use Peri Peri Sauce in Cooking

Peri-peri sauce is commonly used to marinate poultry. Before cooking, roasting, or baking, coat your meat in the sauce.

Fries, grilled veggies, and other dishes benefit from peri-peri sauce. Blend it with mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to make it creamier.

Spike your salad dressing with peri-peri sauce. It goes well with lemon vinaigrettes. It complements grilled poultry or beef.

Peri-peri sauce can enrich stir-fries. Mix a spoonful or two into your stir-fry sauce with soy sauce and ginger.

It could replace tomato sauce on pizza. Grilled poultry, red onions, and bell peppers pair well.

Peri Peri Sauce Tips

Wash your hands after handling chiles without gloves.

The peri-peri sauce recipe is just a guide. Use fewer chiles or remove the seeds before blending for a milder sauce. Add chiles or cayenne pepper for extra heat.

For a smooth sauce, blend all components well. The sauce shouldn’t have big chilies or onions.

Peri-peri sauce can be refrigerated for weeks in a sealed container. It can be frozen in an ice cube pan and then transferred to a freezer bag for longer storage.

Peri-peri sauce is traditionally made with bird’s eye chiles, but you can use other peppers. Try various peppers to find your favorite.

Use fresh ingredients for the best peri-peri sauce taste. Dried herbs and spices lack taste.

• Chicken Dipping Sauce
• Quesadilla Sauce

Peri Peri Sauce (Homemade Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce)

Learn how to make the perfect peri-peri sauce with this easy-to-follow recipe. From marinating meat to using it as a salad dressing or stir-fry sauce, discover the many ways you can use this flavorful condiment to elevate your meals.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Sauce

Cuisine South African

Servings 2 Cups

Calories 62 kcal

Equipment

• Skillet

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup of peri-peri chilies fresh or dried
• 1/2 cup of chopped onion
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 1/4 cup of white vinegar
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Instructions

 

• Start by washing and drying the chilies. If you're using fresh chilies, remove the stems and chop them into small pieces. If you're using dried chilies, soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes until they're soft, then remove the stems and chop them into small pieces.
• Next, add the chopped chilies, onion, lemon juice, white vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and salt to a blender. Blend the ingredients until you get a smooth sauce. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little bit of water to thin it out.
• Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you want it to be spicier, add more chili peppers. If you want it to be more acidic, add more lemon juice or vinegar. If you want it to be more garlicky, add more garlic.

Keyword nandos peri peri sauce, nandos sauce, nandos sauce recipe