Ingredient Spotlight: Peri Peri Sauce, a Hot and Spicy Sauce That Gives Sriracha a Run For Its Money

It is no secret that we have a love affair with spicy sauces. From hot sauce and Buffalo sauce from the USA, Sriracha from Thailand, and harissa from North Africa, we love to drizzle these over just about anything short of dessert. But, there’s one sauce that has been, generally speaking, off our radar for far too long: peri peri sauce. Hailing from Portugal, this spicy sauce packs a hot and spicy, but complex that has Sriracha beat. Let’s learn a little more about where peri peri sauce comes from and how we can use it in the kitchen.

About Peri Peri Sauce

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Peri peri sauce originates in Portugal, but has become a staple condiment in African countries like Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, and South Africa as a result of colonialism. Traditionally, it is made from a blend of peri peri pepper, also known as the African bird’s eye chili, sweet pimiento, citrus peel, onion, pepper, salt, lemon juice, bay leaves, paprika basil, oregano, and tarragon. peri peri sauce looks like Sriracha and shares the same slightly thick, but still drizzle-able texture, but that is about all they have in common. While Sriracha is hot with powerful notes of garlic and vinegar, peri peri sauce is hot and aromatic, with sweet undertones that become more prominent depending on what you add it to.

How to Use Peri Peri Sauce

Traditionally, peri peri sauce is added to meat dishes. It is especially known for its use in thePortuguesee dish frango peri peri, or peri peri peri peri chicken, where chicken is marinated in a blend of peri peri is mixed with traditional poultry herbs and spices, then grilled. Because it comes from Portugal, it is also a popular choice for many seafood-based dishes.

Try making a meat-free frango peri peri using this Chicken-Style Seitan. First, follow the preparation in the recipe, then combine a base of 3 tablespoons vegan butter, 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, a few garlic cloves, poultry seasoning to taste, and 2 tablespoons peri peri sauce. Combine everything on stovetop and once the butter is melted, let cook over low heat for at least 2 minutes. Then, combine the marinade and seitan in a glass baking dish and let marinate for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator. After that, just throw it on your grill (over a drip pan) or grill pan and cook until the marinade until browned and warmed through.Try using the same marinade for this Grilled Chicken of the Woods Sandwich. Or, try replacing the Sriracha in this

Try swapping Sriracha and hot sauce in your favorite recipes with peri peri. For example, peri peri sauce would work perfectly in place of Sriracha in this Sweet and Spicy Cola Tofu and the hot sauce in these Buffalo Tofu “Wings”.

You can also use it to bring more flavor to “meaty” sandwiches, like these Tempeh Sloppy Joes or this Tofu Scramble and Red Chard Sandwich — just add a drizzle, like you would with any hot sauce!

Peri peri sauce also works in stir-frys, like this Peri Peri Tofu, where firm tofu and kale are sautéed with garlic, onion, ginger, mustard seeds, and a drizzle of peri peri sauce. Try adding a drizzle of peri peri sauce to your favorite veggie stir-fry or add it to simple dishes like this Tofu Fried Rice, this Quick and Easy Fried Rice, or this Sweet Potato With Tamarind and Coconut.

Try combining a drizzle of peri peri sauce with vegan mayonnaise to create a creamy, but spicy sauce. Or, make this Sriracha Mango Sauce with peri peri sauce instead.

Finally, use peri peri sauce to take your snacks to the next level. Try it with these Sesame Sriracha Cashews or these Sriracha Sweet Potato Chips instead of Sriracha.

Where to Buy

Unfortunately, peri peri sauce is not quite as popular as Sriracha and other types of hot sauce, so it can be tricky to find. If you live near a grocery that stocks African specialty groceries, you might find it there. Or, you might find it at your local Whole Foods.

Your best bet at finding peri peri sauce is online. This Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce has medium heat no added MSG, no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. One 4.7-ounce bottle costs $7.33. Or, you can try this Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce Variety Pack that features four flavors: Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Garlic. This pack of four 4.7-ounce bottles costs $16.15.

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Lead image source: Louno Morose/Shutterstock