Peri-peri

Peri-peri

Peri-peri, also known as piri-piri or pili-pili, is a type of chili pepper that originated in Southern Africa. The name "peri-peri" comes from the Swahili word 'pilipili', which means 'pepper'. It is a small and extremely spicy member of the Capsicum genus.

History

The peri-peri pepper is believed to have originated in South America and was brought to Africa by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century. The Portuguese then took the pepper back to Europe, where it became a popular ingredient in Portuguese cuisine, particularly in the form of peri-peri sauce.

Peri-peri Sauce

Peri-peri sauce is a hot sauce made from crushed peri-peri peppers, citrus peel, onion, garlic, pepper, salt, lemon juice, bay leaves, paprika, pimiento, basil, oregano, and tarragon. It is used as a seasoning or marinade for meat, especially chicken, and is a key ingredient in the popular dish peri-peri chicken.

Peri-peri Chicken

Peri-peri chicken is a dish that originated in Angola and Mozambique when Portuguese settlers arrived with peri-peri peppers. The dish consists of chicken marinated in peri-peri sauce, then grilled. The chicken is served with a side of peri-peri sauce for dipping.

Cultivation

Peri-peri peppers are grown in several African countries, including Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. The peppers are also grown in Portugal, where they are known as piri-piri peppers.

Culinary Uses

In addition to peri-peri sauce and peri-peri chicken, the peri-peri pepper is used in a variety of other dishes. It is often used to spice up soups, stews, and marinades, and is a common ingredient in African and Portuguese cuisine.

Health Benefits

Peri-peri peppers are rich in vitamin A, C, and E, and also contain high levels of capsaicin, a compound that is believed to have several health benefits, including pain relief, reducing inflammation, and boosting metabolism.

See Also

• Capsicum
• Portuguese cuisine
• African cuisine

References

• BBC Good Food - Peri-peri
• Healthline - 8 Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

External Links

• Nando's - Explore Our Peri-Peri Sauces
• The Spruce Eats - Peri-Peri Sauce Recipe