Crafted with just a few pantry staples, this homemade Peri Peri seasoning mix will blow your mind away with its deliciousness.
It is spicy, slightly smokey, tangy and addictive - just like your favorite Nando’s seasoning.
If you love spicy food, this spice mix will have your heart!
I’ve actually tried my hands at quite a few homemade seasoning mixes, and while my Tajin spice mix and garlic bread seasoning are both super close to my heart, I really wanted to experiment and try my hands at a more versatile spice blend.
One look at the half-empty bottle of Peri Peri sauce in my pantry, and I knew what I had to do.
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
My favorite part about this Peri Peri seasoning blend has to be its spicy flavor.
I love making a big batch of this and storing it in my pantry - it is great for weekend prep. It doesn’t even need like a lot of ingredients- all you need to do is buy ready ground spices (if you don’t already have them) and then mix them all together- that’s it!
Plus, you can adjust and tweak the ingredients to suit your taste.
Ingredients For the Peri Peri Seasoning Recipe
Ready to make homemade Peri Peri seasoning? Here’s all you’ll need to make this recipe?
Paprika: While Piri Piri pepper is the ideal choice for this recipe, paprika is the next best alternative. You’ll need just about 1 tablespoon of it.
Cayenne: You’ll also need some cayenne pepper powder to bring some more heat to the seasoning.
Garlic granules: I used garlic granules, because that’s what I had at hand. Garlic powder can work just as well too!
Ginger powder: I also added a dash of ginger powder to bring some of that afterburn into the mix.
Onion powder: Onion powder brings a nice umami deliciousness to the seasoning, and also tones down the heat with its subtle sweetness.
Italian seasoning mix: I also added a bit of Italian seasoning mix, but if you don’t have it at hand, you can just make do with some Italian dried herbs like oregano and thyme.
Dried parsley: Dried parsley adds a beautiful pop of color and some nice freshness to the mix. This one’s a must!
Black pepper: I also added some crushed black pepper to bring some more flavor to the seasoning mix.
Salt: And of course, some salt to bring everything to life!
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Homemade Peri Peri Seasoning
Got all your ingredients ready? Here’s what you’ll need to do next.
Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Mix well, taste and adjust according to your personal preference.
That’s it! Your quick and easy Peri Peri seasoning is ready. Transfer it to an airtight jar and you’re done.
Substitutions & Variations
- To lend the seasoning a bit of a smoky flavor, use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika.
- If you don’t have paprika or cayenne pepper, you could make do with almost any other kind of hot chili powder.
- Got your hands on peri peri chillies? Use them instead of paprika!
💭Top Tip
You can also use a spoonful of this mix with some mayonnaise to turn it into a nice fry dip.
Equipment
How to Store Peri-Peri Seasoning
The best way to store peri peri seasoning is to transfer it to an airtight container and place it in a cool, dark place. I usually make a big jar and place it in my pantry or cupboard.
Remember that this Peri Peri spice mix, unlike the store-bought version, does not have any additive or preservative agents, which means you’ll need to use an airtight jar to store it and to preserve its flavor and freshness.
Do it right, and the seasoning should stay fresh for up to 8 months, if not longer.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- I used a mix of homemade and store-bought herbs and spices to make this popular seasoning.
- Cardamom powder and cumin powder are both good additions to this peri-peri seasoning. If you can get your hands on them, add them in too.
- If you want to bring in a bit of sweetness into this Piri-Piri spice mix, you can also add some brown sugar into the mix.
How to Use Peri Peri Seasoning
This spicy seasoning is perfect to use for any of your spicy recipes.
I personally love using it as a dry rub for my meats in particular. Just 1 teaspoon of this seasoning along with some olive oil and chopped fresh parsley or cilantro and a bit of lemon juice can transform your chicken into the best homemade peri peri chicken you’ve ever tasted.
If you love Nandos chicken or Nandos rice, you’ve got to give this a try.
I also love sprinkling this seasoning over my vegetable dishes like my Air Fryer Parmesan asparagus and my spicy garlic edamame.
This seasoning is delicious when you use it on your salads like a chickpea egg salad or a refreshing avocado Pico de Gallo.
This spicy mix can also work wonderfully with seafood. I love using a pinch or two of it whenever I make my garlic lemon butter shrimp - it just adds so much flavor.
FAQs
It is! Piri Piri seasoning is actually a spice blend from South Africa crafted using Peri-Peri chillies which are essentially a kind of bird’s eye chili.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Peri Peri Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 tablespoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Mix well, taste and adjust according to your personal preference.
