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Piri-Piri Sauce

Portugal

Piri-piri chillies were carried from Africa and the Americas to Portugal by 15th-century navigators. Piri-piri chicken, grilled over charcoal, is now one of the best-known Portuguese dishes.

A fiery, garlicky Portuguese chilli sauce with lemon and olive oil. The signature marinade and dip for grilled chicken.

Authentic Portugal Piri-Piri Sauce recipe
Prep
15 mins
Cook
10 mins
Difficulty
Easy
Calories
70 kcal
Serves
8
Calories are an estimate based on ingredients used

Ingredients

8red bird's eye chillies (piri-piri), stalks removed
4garlic cloves
1red pepper, roasted and peeled
4 tbspolive oil
3 tbspred wine vinegar
2lemons, juiced
1 tspsmoked paprika
1 tspdried oregano
1 tspsalt

Method

1

Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor.

2

Blend until fairly smooth, with a little texture.

3

Simmer gently in a small pan for 8-10 minutes to mellow the raw garlic.

4

Cool and store in a jar. Use as a marinade, basting sauce or table sauce. Keeps for 2 weeks in the fridge.

Chef's Tip

Wear gloves when handling the chillies. For a milder sauce, remove the seeds.

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Some recipe photos courtesy of Openverse and Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under Creative Commons licenses.
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