What Is Piri Piri Seasoning (2024)

Let’s crack open the spice jar. Here is everything you need to know about Piri Piri seasoning—from its African roots to the five ways you should be using it tonight. First, let’s clear up the name. "Piri piri" is the Swahili word for "pepper pepper." The story begins not in Portugal, but in Southern Africa.

Portuguese explorers took chili peppers (native to the Americas) to their colonies in Africa, specifically Mozambique and Angola. There, the local farmers began cultivating a specific, fiery little chili known as the African Bird’s Eye Chili (or Piri Piri pepper). Eventually, the Portuguese brought these peppers back to Lisbon, adapted the recipe with European ingredients (like garlic and lemon), and the world fell in love with the result. what is piri piri seasoning

If your spice rack feels boring, toss out that old cayenne and pick up a jar of Piri Piri. Your roasted veggies, your eggs, and definitely your chicken will thank you. Let’s crack open the spice jar

Grind the seasoning into a fine powder (to avoid biting a whole chili flake) and toss it with hot, buttered popcorn. "Piri piri" is the Swahili word for "pepper pepper