By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 8
313 cal · 15 min
Piri Piri Sauce
Recipe GLPR1880e47b6fb78f
A vibrant African hot sauce with dried chiles, aromatic spices, and fresh herbs blended into a smooth, fiery condiment. Perfect as a marinade for grilled chicken or served alongside any dish that needs bold, spicy flavor with warm undertones of cinnamon and nutmeg.
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Ingredients
1/3 cup dried African bird's eye chiles, seeded
1 cup olive oil or other vegetable oil
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons ground coriander
1 tablespoon fresh Thai basil, chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 preserved lemon, quartered
4 cloves garlic
1 whole roasted red bell pepper, seeds removed
Salt to taste
Directions
Place the dried bird's eye chiles in a bowl and cover with hot water. Let them soak overnight until fully softened and rehydrated.
Drain the soaked chiles and transfer them to a blender.
Add the oil, cilantro, lemon juice, coriander, Thai basil, cumin, dill, ginger, smoked paprika, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, preserved lemon, garlic, and roasted red bell pepper to the blender.
Blend all ingredients on high speed until the mixture reaches a completely smooth consistency, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides as needed.
Taste the sauce and add salt as needed to balance the flavors.
Transfer to a clean container and refrigerate. Use as a marinade for grilled meats, a dipping sauce, or a condiment. This recipe yields enough to marinate approximately 4 pounds of chicken wings.
Comments
Piri piri sauce is a flavor powerhouse that makes grilled chicken and fish sing, but ingredient sourcing in Charlotte will cost you a second stop. Dried African bird's eye chiles are not stocked at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Walmart, or ALDI; you'll need to visit a specialty spice shop or ethnic market—a real ask on a weeknight. Thai basil and preserved lemon add authenticity but are also specialty finds, and the 15-minute claim ignores the time needed to mince ginger, garlic, and fresh red pepper by hand. The sauce itself keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for weeks and adds dimension to simple proteins, making it worth the effort on a weekend when you can build a pantry.
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