Piri Piri
Also known as: peri peri, African bird's eye, pil pil
The defining pepper of Portuguese-African cooking, piri piri anchors the cuisines of Portugal, Mozambique, Angola, and South Africa. Most widely known through Nando's, which built a global fast food chain around a single piri piri marinade.
The full profile
Piri piri is where Africa and Europe met in the kitchen. Portuguese traders brought American peppers to Africa in the 16th century; the African bird's eye chili that evolved there then traveled back to Portugal as a culinary mainstay. The result is one of the most distinctive spicy food traditions in the world — the Nando's peri-peri chicken has done more to export African heat culture globally than perhaps any other single product. At home, piri piri oil over grilled chicken is one of the simplest and most satisfying spicy preparations you can make.
Flavor
Citrusy, bright heat with a slight sweetness and a lingering warm finish.
Color
Red
Heat level
Hot
50K–175K SHU
30,000–100,000 SHU
Did you know
Nando's was founded in Johannesburg in 1987 and now operates over 1,200 restaurants in 35 countries — all built around a single recipe using piri piri pepper.
How to use it
- —Peri-peri chicken marinades — the definitive use
- —Portuguese piri piri oil over seafood
- —Mozambican and Angolan stews and braises
- —South African braai condiment
- —Mixed into aioli and mayonnaise for a mild heat base
Pairs well with
Shop these
Sauces and products that feature piri piri.
Char-ready marinade
Peri-Peri Sauce
The bottle to grab when chicken needs acid, garlic, and real heat before it hits the grill or broiler.
View on Amazon ↗Restaurant bottle
Nando's Peri-Peri Hot Sauce
The famous Nando's African bird's eye chili sauce — lemon, garlic, and real peri-peri heat. Easy to use anywhere you'd use any hot sauce but with more dimension.
View on Amazon ↗Caribbean pour
Encona Original Hot Pepper Sauce
A fruity, mild-to-medium Caribbean sauce with a tropical edge — approachable enough for everyday use, interesting enough to stand out at a BBQ or seafood dinner.
View on Amazon ↗Cook with it
Recipes that use piri piri.
thai · inferno
Apr 17, 2026Grilled Beef Ribs with Trinidad Moruga Nam Jim Jeaw
Charcoal-grilled beef short ribs meet the fierce heat of Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers in this boundary-pushing take on Thailand's beloved nam jim jeaw—a smoky, tangy dipping sauce that transforms simple grilled meat into something unforgettable. 70 min · 0 saves.
vietnamese · medium
Apr 15, 2026Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken with Chilies (Gà Nướng Sả Ớt)
Juicy chicken thighs marinated in fragrant lemongrass and fish sauce, then grilled with fresh chilies for that perfect Vietnamese balance of aromatic and spicy that builds beautifully with each bite. 45 min · 0 saves.
caribbean · mild
Apr 14, 2026Caribbean Pork and Pineapple Skewers with Scotch Bonnet Glaze
Tender pork shoulder and sweet pineapple chunks come together on the grill, brushed with a gentle scotch bonnet glaze that brings all the Caribbean warmth without setting your mouth on fire. 40 min · 0 saves.