What Is Shito?
Shito or shitor din (lit. ‘black pepper’) is a hot black pepper sauce ubiquitous in Ghanaian cuisine. The name comes from the Ga language.
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. The blend of spices and fish differs between different regions and villages but owes its original recipe to the Ga tribe.
Ghana shito is a very versatile. In the local Ghanaian cuisine, it is used in ways similar to a chilli sauce or ketchup. It can be used as a side, dip or even dressing. It is traditionally eaten with kenkey, waakye, banku and many other Ghanaian dishes. However, it tastes amazing spread on bread, in a stir-fry or salad, stirred into pasta; on barbecue meat, fish or vegetables; anything really.
This Ghanaian sauce is rich and aromatic, with intense flavours; so, a little of it goes a long way to enhance food. It is a good way to eat flavoursome food on the cheap. I was thinking back to my student days and how shito sauce would have been useful for when I was broke! If only I knew about it then.
What Is Shito Made Of?
Shito is traditionally made by pounding fresh red or green chilies with salt and allowing them to ferment in the sun for a few days before combining them with extra-virgin olive oil, spices, and herbs.
What Is Shito Used For?
In Ghana, shito is used with a variety of dishes. These include kenkey, steamed rice, garri and waakye (rice and beans) and banku. Indeed, its uses have been adapted to that of a local ketchup, hot sauce or chili oil. It is not uncommon to find shito being eaten with white bread or spring rolls. In most Chinese restaurants across Ghana, shito replaces layou as a condiment to fried rice/steamed rice.
What Does Shito Taste Like?
Shito (also called shitor) Is a famous Ghanaian hot chile condiment, akin to a relish, with a deep, earthy, smoky, fishy flavor. It can be made in a variety of ways, and every household has its own recipe. The condiment goes beautifully with both fish and meat, and can be served as a side to most dishes.
Shito Prices In Ghana:
Black Pepper Sauce (Shito) – 261g (Abnest)
GH₵ 31.00
Black Pepper Sauce (Shito) – 637g (Abnest)
GH₵ 87.00
Black Pepper Sauce (Shito) – 600g (Vyvys)
GH₵ 131.00
Black Pepper Sauce (Shito) – 1kg (Vyvy’s)
GH₵ 163.00
Black Pepper Sauce (Shito) – 600g X3 (Vyvys)
GH₵ 381.00
Black Pepper Sauce – Shito – 314g (Abnest)
GH₵ 50.00