Shito is a very popular spicy sauce in Ghana. The cooking process take a bit long, but it is all so worth it. Shito is eaten with almost anything in Ghana.
Ingredients
6 large onions
1 cup fresh ginger root (cubed to make 1 cup)
8 – 10 cloves garlic
1 tbsp rosemary (fresh or dry)
1 tbsp thyme (fresh or dry)
10 – 15 habanero peppers
4 – 5 cups vegetable oil
2 cups dry herring powder (dry fish or shrimp powder)
1 tbsp salt
How to make it:
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.
Yes! you heard me right, I said 1 hour 30 minutes. Now imagine how long it would’ve taken if we used water to blend the ingredients.
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.
This recipe will make 3 (16oz) jars. Store them in glass jars.
Enjoy with Kenkey, jollof rice, Angwamo (rice cooked in oil) etc.
