ShitoGhanaian Hot Pepper Sauce
Shito is a concentrated Ghanaian chile sauce made by slowly cooking aromatics, chile, tomato paste, dried shrimp, and smoked fish in oil. This home version must be refrigerated and used in small spoonfuls.
Prep
20m
Cook
1h
Serves
8
Estimated
Nutrition
Calories
Protein
Fat
Carbs
Estimated per serving from the base recipe. Actual nutrition may vary.
Before you start
Ingredients
Quantities update automatically when you change the serving size.
- 250mlVegetable Oil
- 220gOnion (finely chopped)
- 14gGarlic (crushed)
- 16gFresh Ginger (crushed)
- 3pcsDried Red Chili (soaked and softened)
- 8gChili Powder
- 60gTomato Paste
- 70gDried Shrimp (ground)
- 120gSmoked Fish (ground)
- 8gSalt
Cook through it
Method
Follow each step in order. Ingredient names are highlighted as you go.
- 01
Warm the vegetable oil over medium-low heat in a heavy pan.
- 02
Add the onion and cook slowly until deep golden and very fragrant.
- 03
Stir in the garlic, fresh ginger, and softened dried red chilies, and cook gently until aromatic.
- 04
Add the tomato paste and chili powder and cook, stirring often, until the paste darkens and the oil turns reddish brown.
- 05
Stir in the ground dried shrimp and ground smoked fish and continue cooking over low heat so the mixture becomes thick and deeply savory.
- 06
Season with the salt and cook gently until the sauce is dark, glossy, and the oil rises to the surface.
- 07
Cool the shito promptly, transfer it to a clean covered container, and refrigerate. It is not a shelf-stable home preserve.
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