Open a Ghanaian student’s chop box, a traveller’s suitcase or almost any kitchen cupboard in Accra, and there is likely to be a jar of shito. The dark, oily pepper sauce is Ghana’s most loved condiment, spooned onto kenkey, jollof, rice, noodles and eggs. Its rich, smoky heat is unmistakable, and many families guard their own recipes.
The name and the slow cook
“Shito” means pepper in the Ga language. The sauce is strongly associated with Ga cooking in Accra, though it is now eaten across Ghana. Shito is made from dried chilli peppers, dried fish, dried shrimp, onions, ginger, garlic and oil, often with tomato paste and spices. The ingredients are fried slowly for a long time, stirring often, until the mixture turns dark and the oil separates. The process can take hours.
Shelf life, uses and brands
Because it is cooked down and covered in oil, shito keeps for weeks or months, which makes it ideal for students and travellers. Shito goes with kenkey and fish, jollof, waakye, plain rice, yam, bread and noodles. Some people eat it with almost everything. Recipes vary. Some cooks add more shrimp, others prefer it milder or with more ginger. Vegetarian versions skip the fish.
Many brands sell shito in supermarkets in Ghana and abroad.
Packing, home cooking and kenkey
Ghanaians travelling abroad often pack shito, though airport security rules about liquids can be a problem. Making shito at home fills the house with a strong smell, so many cooks do it outdoors. It is high in oil, so a little goes a long way. Ghanaian restaurants abroad serve shito, and non-Ghanaian diners have discovered it.
Kenkey with fried fish and shito is one of the classic Accra combinations, sold in chop bars and by street vendors across the city. Many people say kenkey without shito is not complete.
Gifts, tips and storage
A jar of homemade shito is a common gift for friends travelling or students leaving home. Grind the dried fish and shrimp finely, use enough oil and stir often to prevent burning. Keep shito in a clean, sealed jar and use a dry spoon. Ghana has given the world jollof arguments and kente cloth. Shito is the export Ghanaians themselves seem most reluctant to leave home without.
