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–+ servings
copycat nando's peri peri hot sauce recipe with bird's eye chilis

Copycat Nando's Peri Peri Sauce

By: Kelly Jensen
This copycat Nando's peri peri sauce recipe is a delicious and flavorful hot sauce, made with bird's eye chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, and spices! Use it as a sauce, a marinade for chicken, or brush it on meat as it's grilling.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Condiment, Sauce
Cuisine American, South Afircan
Servings 8 2-tablespoon servings
Calories 111 kcal

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Funnel
  • Hot Sauce Jars

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb bird's eye chili peppers or Fresno chiles
  • 1 red bell pepper seeds and stem removed
  • 1 head garlic about 10 cloves, peeled
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 sweet onion
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 lemons zested and juiced

Instructions
 

  • Before starting, I recommend wearing food-safe gloves to protect your hands from the pepper oils. Remove the stems from the peppers, and place the whole peppers in a food processor.
  • Add in the garlic, chopped onion, olive oil, white vinegar, honey, smoked paprika, thyme, and salt.
  • Zest the lemons first, then slice and add the fresh lemon juice to the hot sauce.
  • Start the food processor on low speed, and work your way up to high. Process for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce is a liquid-y consistency. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water if needed to thin the sauce out.
  • Pour the hot sauce into jars or bottles, and refrigerate. Enjoy for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • For a more mild sauce, you can remove the seeds from inside the peppers before adding them to the food processor.
  • Season to taste - everyone has a different preference for salt and pepper, so if more is needed, please add your desired amount.
  • If making this recipe ahead of time, make sure to give the hot sauce a good shake before serving, as it can separate.
Additions and Substitutions
You can add more garlic, or more onion to give this dish a deeper savory flavor.
If you don't have smoked paprika, you can use regular paprika or omit it altogether.
Fresh herbs would be a great addition - 1/2 bunch chopped parsley or cilantro blended into the sauce would give it a wonderful freshness.
Fresh lemon juice makes this sauce - I made this recipe the first time without it, and the lemon juice and zest really added a nice flavor. I highly recommend using fresh lemons and not bottled lemon juice. Or substitute lime juice if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 153mgPotassium: 299mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1275IUVitamin C: 172mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Let us know how it was!