Name: Peri peri sauce recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 Red bell pepper (stalk and seeds removed); 6 Red chili peppers (stalk removed and roughly chopped); 5 cloves Garlic (peeled); 4 Basil leaves; 1 tbsp Fresh oregano; ¼ cup Onions (roughly chopped); 1 cup Olive oil; 1 tbsp Smoked paprika; Lemon juice (to taste); 1 tsp Black pepper; Salt (to taste)

Jump to Recipe

Forget expensive restaurant prices, our incredible peri peri sauce recipe is just as good (and some say better), and you can make it at a fraction of the cost. If your family likes Nando’s sauce then this is a great way to give them exactly what they want without spending a fortune.

Homemade piri piri sauce n a jar with a red chili pepper and oregano.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission. Thank you!

Why you’ll love this spicy sauce recipe

Taking just 5 minutes to prepare, this is SO easy, that anyone can make it.
If like many, you’re counting costs, this is a great way to get the flavors of the restaurant but with little cost.
So great for fakeaway Friday (yes, that is a thing), BBQs, and it’ll also become one of your favorite dipping sauces.
All the ingredients are 100% vegetarian and vegan.

What ingredients do I need?

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Ingredients needed pepper, salt, basil leaves, garlic, olive oil, onion, red bell pepper, lemon juice, oregano, chili peppers, and smoked paprika.

Homemade peri peri sauce is just the best and it’ll keep in the fridge for 2 weeks, which means you can grab it and use it whenever you like!

What do I serve peri peri sauce with?

You’ll probably have heard of peri peri sauce being used on chicken wings at Nando’s.

But as vegetarians naturally we don’t use it for that.

So what do vegetarians use peri peri sauce for?

We love using this hot sauce as a spicy dipping sauce!

We dip our sweet potato fries in it.

For extra spice kick, why not make our easy peri peri fries and dip them in it?

That is an insanely delicious combination!

If you’re anything like us and love spicy foods, then you’ll find yourself adding it to all sorts of dishes.

Sandwiches and veggie chicken are given a spicy makeover when you add peri peri sauce to them!

What is peri peri sauce?

Think Nandos and you can get an idea of the type of sauce peri peri sauce is.

But unsurprisingly, that’s not where peri peri sauce, or ‘piri piri sauce’ as it’s also known as comes from.

You could be forgiven for thinking that this hot sauce recipe is South African, but while it’s hugely popular there, that’s not its origin.

It was the Mozambique Portuguese that introduced it to Southern Africa.

So, it’s actually from Portuguese cuisine.

How do you make vegetarian peri peri chicken?

It’s easy to make vegetarian peri peri chicken.

Simply get your favorite brand of vegetarian chicken wings, then brush your homemade peri peri sauce over all the sides.

Place it in a covered glass dish and let it marinate for a minimum of 3 hours but preferably overnight.

Cook as you usually do, either in the oven or on the grill.

Then serve it with extra sauce so you can dip it!

It’s insanely good!

Want a pourable peri peri sauce?

If you’d like to pour this delicious sauce recipe over a salad, then all you need to do is to add coconut milk, along with some red wine vinegar.

What chili peppers should I use?

If you want an authentic peri peri sauce, then you should use African bird’s eye chilies, but you can’t always find them in your local store.

We used red chili peppers, but you could also use cayenne pepper, serrano peppers, or any hot peppers that you can get your hands on.

Naturally, the quantities you’ll need will depend on the peppers that you are using.

So if you are using anything but red chili peppers, please add them in slowly and taste, taste, taste!

You don’t want to blow your head off, do you?!

If you like it hot, why not try this Louisanna hot sauce?

Experiment with the peppers

To make this peri peri sauce recipe super simple and quick, we’ve used red bell peppers.

But if you’ve more time on your hands, then why not use roasted red bell peppers or fire roasted peppers instead?

They’ll both add flavor and give the sauce more depth.

Do I eat peri peri sauce hot or cold?

You can eat it either way.

It’s absolutely delicious when you dunk peri peri fires in them, hot or cold.

We often have it cold with cut up vegetables.

Or slathered on roasted vegetables and then cooked deliciously in the oven together.

Hot or cold, it’s your choice.

How do I store it?

Our homemade peri peri (or homemade Nando’s sauce) sauce recipe stores very well.

Keep it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to two weeks.

It’ll also freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe notes and expert tips

Don’t like it quite so hot?
For a milder sauce, simply reduce the number of chilies.
Add extra zest
Add a little lemon zest to your sauce.
Out of olive oil?
Simply use vegetable oil instead.
Storage
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks and freeze for up to 3 months.

More easy sauce recipes for you to try

If you love our peri peri sauce, then why not try these easy dips and sauces?

Arrabiata Sauce Recipe

Homemade sriracha aioli with someone dipping a tortilla in it.

Sriracha aioli recipe

Marinara sauce in a bowl and a mason jar.

Marinara Sauce Recipe

Tzatziki Sauce

Delicious bowl of homemade Indian cucumber raita.

Easy Homemade Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe

How to make peri peri sauce with step by step instructions

Making our peri peri sauce is easy if you follow our simple instructions.

Ingredients all in the food processor ready to blitz. — Add all the ingredients to your food processor.

Ingredients blitzed in a food processor. — Blitz until you have a smooth sauce.

Add your red bell pepper, red chili peppers (or African bird’s eye chili), garlic, basil, oregano, onions, smoked paprika, lemon juice, black pepper, and olive oil to your food processor and blitz, until very smooth.

Taste and season with salt if required.

Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Peri peri sauce in a jar, with fresh oregano and red chili peppers.

We hope you love making and eating our peri peri sauce recipe and would love to hear how you got on with making it.

Please leave a comment below and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Print Pin Recipe

5 from 18 votes

Peri peri sauce recipe

Homemade peri peri sauce is just as good, if not better than the restaurants! Made in just 10 minutes, no cooking skills are needed! Make ahead and store in the fridge for 2 weeks. Use it on hoto food or as a spicy dip. You'll love it and your friends and family will thank you!

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Servings

Calories254

Course: Dips, Sauce

Cuisine: African, Portugese

Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste

Utensils

Food processor

Ingredients

1 Red bell pepper stalk and seeds removed
6 Red chili peppers stalk removed and roughly chopped
5 cloves Garlic peeled
4 Basil leaves
1 tbsp Fresh oregano
¼ cup Onions roughly chopped
1 cup Olive oil
1 tbsp Smoked paprika
Lemon juice to taste
1 tsp Black pepper
Salt to taste

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a food processor or blender add your red bell pepper, chili peppers, garlic, basil, oregano, onions, smoked paprika, lemon juice, and black pepper, and blitz until you have a smooth consistency. Add salt to taste. Use immediately or store in the fridge in an airtight container.
6 Red chili peppers, 5 cloves Garlic, 4 Basil leaves, 1 tbsp Fresh oregano, ¼ cup Onions, 1 cup Olive oil, 1 tbsp Smoked paprika, Lemon juice, 1 tsp Black pepper, Salt

Notes

Don’t like it quite so hot?
For a milder sauce, simply reduce the number of chilies

Add extra zest
Add a little lemon zest to your sauce

Out of olive oil?
Simply use vegetable oil instead

Storage
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, and freeze for up to 3 months

Nutrition

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.