How to make Shito

Shito is a popular Ghanaian pepper sauce that adds a delicious depth of flavor to many dishes. It is typically made with a combination of peppers, herbs, and spices and is often used as a sauce. If you are looking to add some extra flavor to your meals, learning how to make your own homemade shito is a great way to get started.

In this article, we will walk you through the steps to make your own shito, from the ingredients you will need to the cooking techniques needed.

In this Article:

How to make shito

Ingredients

6 large onions
1 cup fresh ginger root (cubed to make 1 cup)
8 – 10 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon rosemary (fresh or dry)
1 tablespoon thyme (fresh or dry)
10 – 15 habanero peppers
4 – 5 cups vegetable oil
2 cups dry herring powder (dry fish or shrimp powder)
1 tablespoon salt

How to prepare

First blend the dry fish into a smooth powder and set it aside.
Peel the onions and cut into cubes, clean and cut the ginger in small cube and peel the garlic.
Now, use the oil to blend everything together. Which are the onions, garlic, ginger, rosemary, thyme, and the habanero peppers.
Do NOT use water to blend. Only use oil to blend the ingredients.
Using only oil to blend the ingredients help speed up the cooking time. Because shito can take a very long time to make.
So, to cut down the cooking time, we’re going to blend all the ingredients with only oil. The less water, the better.
In a large pot, add the blended mixture and simmer on a medium to low heat.
Allow this to simmer until all the water from the onions are evaporated. This should take about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Remember to stir every 5 minutes to prevent the shito from burning.
After 1 hour 30 minutes, add the herring powder and stir.
Turn the heat down to low and simmer for another 30 minutes.
This should take about 2 hours from start to finish.
Store them in glass jars if possible but not compulsory.
Enjoy with Kenkey, banku jollof rice, etc

What spices are used in making shito?

The preparation of the shito begins with the frying of red onions in oil, the sweet taste of this variety of onions goes particularly well with chili peppers. Garlic, ground green chili peppers, grated fresh ginger, thyme and diced kpakpo shito peppers are then added.

What is Shito sauce made of?

Shito sauce consists primarily of fish or vegetable oil, ginger, dried fish, prawns, crustaceans, tomatoes, garlic, peppers and spices. These ingredients are usually blended and cooked in vegetable or corn oil for a little over an hour to create the sauce.

How long can Ghana Shito last?

Remember this shito is a condiment and can be kept for 6 weeks, so it is important that all moist ingredients are fried dry. 2. Add the tomato paste and fry for a couple of minutes to get rid of the sour taste. Add your blended or blitzed tomatoes.

Is Ghana Shito healthy?

Shito has a lot of nutrients and these are beneficial to the human body? Shito is a famous Ghanaian sauce made with pepper, fish, garlic, ginger, onions, oil, spices and others. It’s a source of Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-6, vitamin C and iron.

Can shito be kept in the fridge?

Water is not added to shito sauce blend; and the sauce is simmered in oil which allows the moisture to dissipate as the sauce thickens. This makes the water activity so low that the product could be kept at ambient temperature for some time and will last weeks in the fridge.

Final words

Shito is an easy and delicious sauce to prepare. With the right ingredients and a few simple steps, you can have a flavorful pepper sauce ready in no time. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook, following these steps will help you make a tasty, unique shito that your family and friends will love.