Peri Peri, also known by the Portuguese name for all very hot chili species – Piri Piri – is an extremely hot chili variety that may have become familiar to the wider public through background reports surrounding the 2010 World Cup in South Africa – where the spicy plant is used as a condiment to enhance many dishes.
Epithet “African Devil”
Its epithet “African Devil” says it all: like other hot spices, the African devil provides a real adrenaline rush. It irritates the nerve endings, the brain receives the signal “pain” – to which our body reacts with the release of happiness hormones.
Let the following Peri Peri recipe whip you into a painful-pleasurable frenzy.
Chicken Peri Peri Recipe
Ingredients for four people
- Cut 1 kg of chicken parts or 1 ready-to-cook chicken into about ten parts.
- 5 peri peri chili peppers
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tbsp sweet paprika powder
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and sugar
For the peri peri sauce, mix a little salt and sugar with the paprika and olive oil. Add one or two of the chili peppers cleaned, cut and seeded, finely chopped. Coat the chicken pieces all over with the peri peri sauce and place in a baking dish. Spread the remaining chili peppers on the chicken along with the bay leaves.
Let the whole thing roast in the preheated oven for about 45 to 50 minutes at 175 degrees convection or 200 degrees top and bottom heat, brushing with the gravy from time to time.
Tip: When preparing dishes with chili always wash your hands well after contact with the pods, do not touch your eyes!
Peri Peri recipes from all over the world
Not only South Africans love their fiery chicken peri peri, around the Mediterranean and on the African continent – in short, everywhere where it is hot – people like to eat spicy.
In Portugal, for example, people like to grow the spicy vegetable on the windowsill or in the garden. Peri Peri shrimp skewers are guaranteed to spice up your next summer garden party, and Peri Peri also makes a wonderful marinade or sauce dip for many other meat skewers or fish dishes.
Homemade Peri Peri Sauce
Peri Peri Sauce can also be homemade for the fans of spicy food according to their own taste and the desired degree of spiciness: For example, from garlic (this is not to be skimped on in southern countries, as is well known), peppers, lemon and olive oil, thyme, rosemary, red wine vinegar, brandy – and, of course, Peri Peri pods – and the adrenaline rush follows the palate.
