I discovered Shito sauce some moons ago. Did I like it then? hmmm not really. it was a little tasteless, or I may have not understood the taste. Shito is a Ghanaian sauce which I literally use for everything since I started making it. I could say with confidence that Shito is to Ghanaians what Agoyin sauce is to Nigerians.
According to Freeds of my burnt orange, “Shito is one of Ghana’s most loved sauces.” It is served as a condiment or with a main meal as a side. I have had mine with stew, rice, yam, dodo(plantains), potatoes and fish. I’m totally obsessed with this sauce. Each time I eat some, it sends sweet sensations of heat through my body. If a competition is being held and the price was a jar of Shito, trust me to play in that competition. That is, I would strive to win that competition by force, by fire 🙂
Speaking of heat(tongue out), in my opinion, making Shito is a labor of love and for valentine’s day you might want to make some for your special one. I had some with some yam pancakes not too long ago and it was bae. Don’t ask me what bae is biko 🙂
On my quest to look for Shito, I asked for a recipe on a Facebook post of mine and there, Freed’s gave me a link to her recipe for Shito; which I adapted to my own style. Thank you Freeds, I can now make this on the regular. In fact I am having some right now with some yam and suya. If there ever was a Shito farm, I could work there just for the love of the sauce 🙂
- 4 plum tomatoes
- 4 small habanero peppers(ata-rodo)(optional)
- 3tbsps tomato paste
- 2tbsps powdered red pepper or chili flakes
- 12 cloves(optional)
- Paprika ½ tbsp.(optional)
- 1tbsp broken bonga fish(dried fish, or fish powder works)
- 2tbsps crayfish powder
- 2 large onions(mince one)
- 1⅓ cup oil(you could add more)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 3-6inches ginger root(peeled)
- Bouillon
- salt to taste
- blend 1 onion with the plum tomatoes; along with the ginger, habanero (if using) and garlic.
- Heat a pot with the oil, add the cloves(if using) and fry for a few seconds to release it's flavor. Add the onion to the pot. Sauté until brown but not burnt; then add the tomato paste. Fry for a few minutes; then pour in the blended mix and fry until most of the oil has floated to the top. Add the paprika, chili flakes, dry fish powder and dry crayfish powder. Check for seasonings while you fry. Continue frying while stirring constantly. The sauce will begin to turn dark brown or a dark red color until it has turned completely....once the sauce turns color and it looks a little dry, remove from the heat and let it cool(you could remove excess oil at this point). Store in a jar and use as a condiment for any dish.
What is bouillon?
bouillon are things like knorr. I hope this helps 🙂
aces! now have a good dip for my chips and corn fritters.
whoop! Thank you
U really tried n has inspired me. Tnx dear
Awww thank you Sharon
I am definitely making this. Thank you for the recipe…
Can you preserve in the jar in the cupboard or does it go in the fridge. How long does it keep for?
Many thanks
Hi Tee. Yes you may preserve shito in a jar and in the fridge for about 3weeks and about a couple of months in the freezer
This is really good Nma, thanks for the recipe
Thank you My active kitchen
Shld d palm oil b heated to a honey lyk colour? Or i nid 2jst heat 4it 2b hot b4 addin anytin. Tnk u. U ar gud
Thank you Chinwe. I didn’t use palm oil. I used regular oil. I hope this helps.
Oh geh!! The only things that are wet that goes in shito are the onions and ginger everything else is dry. No tomatoes in shito. Dry pepper, shawa ( dry fish), crayfish, ginger and onions. Thee more onions and cray fish the sweeter the shito. Add salt and maggi to taste. I know you tweaked but hope you have this as an original recipe.
Hi. Thank you Zeezo; while the ingredients do vary, I tweaked it to fit
Yeah that’s exactly how my mom makes it some people do add tomatoes though. It definitely changes the taste. I personally prefer it without.
If there is one fruit I don’t like, it’s tomatoes. so I can do without it for this recipe lol
So correct my sister! Or bruh…
Thank you 🙂
where my husband comes from in Ghana tomato is always used in shito. So Nma yours is very close to what I’m used to except no cloves. Yours is authentic as well. its just like with any other culture. no two recipes are the same but this is just like what I’m used to . Thanks sis for sharing
Oh thank you!
Shito can last up to a year if it’s made correctly and it doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge. It’s why a lot of boarding school students like taking it to school in Ghana. I’m a Ghanaian and when my mother makes shito, it can last up to 5 months without it ever spoiling. The key to a good shito is that there shouldn’t be any water remaining in it.
okay. thank you 🙂
You’re welcome ?