Shito (Ghanaian Pepper Sauce)
A dark, smoky Ghanaian chilli sauce with dried fish and shrimp, spooned over rice, eggs and fried yam.
- Time45 mins
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.23 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion for 10 minutes until deep golden brown.
10 min - 2
Add the garlic, ginger and Scotch bonnet and fry for 5 minutes, stirring so nothing catches.
5 min - 3
Stir in the tomato purée and cook for 5 minutes until it turns dark red and starts to separate.
5 min - 4
Add the shrimp, crayfish, chilli flakes and pepper. Cook on a low heat for 15 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is dark, thick and smells smoky.
15 min - 5
Cool completely, then spoon into clean jars and make sure the oil covers the top. Keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.