1-Step One: Prepare Your Ingredients Start by gathering all your ingredients and measuring them out. Seed and roughly chop your red bell pepper, crush your garlic cloves, and prepare your chilies. If you prefer a milder sauce, remove the seeds and membranes from your chilies. For a spicier kick, leave them intact. This mise en place approach ensures smooth blending without interruptions.

2-Step Two: Initial Blending Add all ingredients except the olive oil and coconut milk to your blender or food processor. This includes the chilies, red bell pepper, lemon juice, smoked paprika, salt, dried oregano, crushed garlic, balsamic vinegar, wine vinegar, and ground black pepper. Blend on high speed until the mixture becomes as smooth as possible. The consistency at this stage will still be somewhat chunky due to the fresh bell pepper, but aim for the smoothest texture your blender can achieve.

3-Step Three: Emulsify with Olive Oil While the motor runs on low speed, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil one tablespoon at a time. This gradual addition is crucial for proper emulsification. As you add the oil, you’ll notice the sauce beginning to thicken slightly and the color transforming into a more vibrant orange hue. This emulsification process creates a silky, cohesive sauce rather than a separated mixture. Take your time here, letting each tablespoon incorporate fully before adding the next.

4-Step Four: Taste and Adjust Before proceeding further, taste your sauce. This is your opportunity to customize the heat level to your preference. If you’re new to spicy sauces, you might want to start conservative. Remember, you can always add more heat, but you cannot remove it once incorporated. For those who love serious spice, add more chilies and blend again until fully incorporated.

5-Step Five: Create the Dipping Sauce Consistency If you want a creamier sauce or dip for serving alongside meals, continue by blending in the coconut milk. The full-fat coconut milk adds richness and helps create a velvety consistency perfect for dipping. Blend until the coconut milk is fully incorporated and the mixture looks uniform.

6-Step Six: Cook the Sauce Transfer your blended mixture to a pot and place it over medium-high heat. Allow it to come to a bubbling state, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook the sauce for approximately ten minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. This cooking step serves multiple purposes: it mellows the raw garlic flavor, helps the flavors meld together, and allows you to control the final consistency. The longer you cook, the thicker your sauce becomes. For a thin sauce, cook for less time. For a thicker, more concentrated dip, extend the cooking time slightly.

7-Step Seven: Cool and Store Once your sauce reaches your desired consistency, remove it from heat and let it cool slightly. The flavors will continue to develop as it cools. Transfer to a clean glass jar or airtight container for storage. Your homemade peri peri sauce is now ready to use immediately or can be stored for later enjoyment.