Shito

Shito, a cherished pepper sauce in Ghanaian cuisine, is often referred to as "shitor din" or simply "shito." The name "shito" originates from the Ga language spoken in Accra, Ghana's capital. This flavorful sauce is crafted by combining ingredients such as fish or vegetable oil, ginger, dried fish, prawns, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, and an array of spices. Typically, it's simmered in oil for over an hour to develop its rich and spicy flavor.

Shito is incredibly versatile and complements a variety of dishes like kenkey, rice, gari, waakye, and banku. It is commonly used as a condiment, much like ketchup, hot sauce, or chili oil. Interestingly, some Chinese restaurants in Ghana offer shito as an alternative to soy sauce with fried or steamed rice.

There are different types of shito, including a version called ground shito, which is oil-free. This variant is made by mashing fresh peppers, onions, tomatoes, and salt in an earthenware bowl known as "asanka." The sauce can either be red (shitor tsulu) or green (kpakpo shito), depending on the type of pepper used. Ground shito is often enjoyed with dishes like banku, akple, gari, kenkey, and steamed rice.