Peri peri seasoning is one of those spice blends that sounds fancy but is so easy to make at home. I started making my own after falling in love with the bold, smoky heat of Southern African cooking, and I have never looked back.
🧡 Why You'll Love This Recipe
I love this seasoning because it works on literally everything. Chicken, shrimp, lamb, veggies. I even mix it into mayo for a dip and it is absolutely incredible.
It takes about 2 minutes to put together and you probably already have most of the spices sitting in your pantry right now. Smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, cardamom, and a few herbs. That's really all it is.
And because you're making it yourself, there's no sugar, no fillers, no mystery ingredients. Just pure, real flavor the way it was meant to be made.
💭 What is Peri Peri Seasoning?
Peri peri seasoning (also known as piri piri or peli peli) comes from Southern Africa, and it has a really fascinating history. Portuguese settlers brought the African Bird's Eye Chili to Mozambique centuries ago, and locals started blending it with other spices to create this incredible seasoning. That's where peri peri was born.
I want to clear something up because I see this confusion a lot. Peri peri is not a masala. Masala is an Indian spice blend, and while both are bold and aromatic, they are completely different in flavor and origin. Peri peri is smoky, spicy, and earthy with a little tang. Masala is warmer and more fragrant with spices like turmeric and cumin at the center. Two totally different worlds.
In the UK, Nando's made peri peri famous and now people all over the world are obsessed with it. I get it completely. Once you taste real peri peri seasoning, you understand the hype.
My version uses smoked paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, cardamom, and a handful of dried herbs to get that bold, authentic Southern African flavor in your own kitchen. No trip to a specialty store needed.
🧾 Ingredients I Use
Here are the spices you need for this homemade peri peri seasoning.
- Peppers: Smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
- Herbs: Dried oregano, dried thyme.
- Aromatics: Garlic powder, onion powder.
- Spices: Ground coriander, ground ginger, salt, ground cardamom.
🔪 How To Make Peri Peri Seasoning
Piri piri seasoning comes together very quickly!
- Measure all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Mix them up together.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
♨️ How To Store and Reheat
Peri Peri seasoning is a dry rub spice mix, so it keeps quite well for months. Store this recipe in a sealable jar or air-tight container in a cool, dry place.
You can also keep it in your pantry or spice drawer and bring it out to use as needed.
🍽️ What to Serve With It
This African homemade seasoning goes well with almost anything you can think of. I love to use it for my peri peri chicken but I also use it for my meats, seafood, or veggies before cooking.
It's such a hit when made with peri peri chicken. You can also slather it over a T-bone steak, chicken wings, drumsticks, or lamb chops before cooking for a wonderful, delectable experience!
💡 My Expert Tips
- You can blend the combination for a smoother mix. It'll also help mix the spices properly.
- Just like the rest of your spices, keep this dry rub seasoning blend away from direct sunlight.
- Label your pili pili seasoning blend container with the date and name to help you easily identify it.
- Spray or rub your meat with olive oil before rubbing in the peri-peri seasoning so that it sticks to it for best results.
🔄 Recipe Variations
- If you enjoy spicy food, add as much pepper as you want to it. Add just a little pepper if you're not a fan of it. The choice is completely up to you!
- Mix some of this delicious seasoning with mayonnaise to make an irresistible dip.
- Traditionally, the recipe calls for piri piri pepper, but you can substitute it with cayenne pepper or red chilli powder.
👩🍳 Questions You Might Have
What is peri peri seasoning made of?
It is typically made from a blend of dried garlic powder, sugar, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, cardamon, and other herbs. I prefer to skip the sugar since I am on a low carb diet.
What can I substitute for peri peri seasoning?
In the absence of peri peri seasoning, you can use this homemade chicken seasoning recipe for your meat and veggie dishes. It is a dry rub seasoning that is made from a blend of various spices and herbs that helps add so much flavor to your dishes.
What flavor is peri peri?
Depending on the spices and herbs you use, peri peri seasoning can be sweet, sour, spicy, or salty. It could also be a complex mix of all of them.
Is peri peri the same as paprika?
No, peri peri is not the same as paprika. Paprika is a blend of different types of peppers that have been dried and smoked, while peri peri is a spice blend. Although both of them contain peppers, peri peri contains other spices and herbs too.
Enjoy Piri Piri Seasoning with these dishes!
Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Need more rubs and seasonings? Check these out!
📖 Recipe
Peri Peri Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust to heat level
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients together.
- Mix them together.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
- If you enjoy spicy food, add as much pepper as you want to it. Add just a little pepper if you're not a fan of it. The choice is completely up to you!
- Mix some of this delicious seasoning with mayonnaise to make an irresistible dip for French fries.
- Traditionally, the recipe calls for piri piri pepper, but you can substitute it with cayenne pepper or red chilli powder.
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
Hello! I just returned from my first visit to South Africa and am addicted to peri peri! Do you have a recommendation on how to use this blend to make a peri peri sauce?
You can mix the seasoning with some oil and blend them together.