Shito
Encyclopedia
Shitor Din, commonly called Shito is the word for pepper in the Ghana
ian native language (Ga) of the capital Accra. Whilst the word for pepper is different for each of the Ghanaian native languages, the word 'Shito' is widely used as the name for the hot black pepper sauce
ubiquitous in Ghanaian cuisine.
Shito sauce consists primarily of fish oil
and/or vegetable oil, ginger
, dried fish and/or crustaceans, tomatoes, garlic
and spices. The blend of spices and fish differs between different regions and villages.
In Ghana, shito is used with a variety of dishes. These include kenkey
, steamed rice, eba
and waakye (rice and beans). Indeed its uses have been adapted to that of a local ketchup
and/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 hot oil as a condiment to fried rice.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian native language (Ga) of the capital Accra. Whilst the word for pepper is different for each of the Ghanaian native languages, the word 'Shito' is widely used as the name for the hot black pepper sauce
Sauce
In cooking, a sauce is liquid, creaming or semi-solid food served on or used in preparing other foods. Sauces are not normally consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to another dish. Sauce is a French word taken from the Latin salsus, meaning salted...
ubiquitous in Ghanaian cuisine.
Shito sauce consists primarily of fish oil
Fish oil
Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish. Fish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid , and docosahexaenoic acid , precursors of certain eicosanoids that are known to reduce inflammation throughout the body, and are thought to have many health benefits.Fish do not...
and/or vegetable oil, ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
, dried fish and/or crustaceans, tomatoes, garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
and spices. The blend of spices and fish differs between different regions and villages.
In Ghana, shito is used with a variety of dishes. These include kenkey
Kenkey
Kenkey or Dokonu or Komi is a staple dish similar to a sourdough dumpling from the Akan, Ga and Ewe inhabited regions of West Africa, usually served with a soup, stew, or sauce. Areas where Kenkey are eaten are southern Ghana, eastern Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, western Benin and Jamaica. It is usually...
, steamed rice, eba
Eba
Ẹbà is a staple food eaten in West Africa, particularly in the Southern parts of Nigeria made from cassava flour, known in West Africa as gari....
and waakye (rice and beans). Indeed its uses have been adapted to that of a local ketchup
Ketchup
Ketchup is a sweet-and-tangy condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and an assortment of...
and/or chili oil
Chili oil
Chili oil is a condiment made from vegetable oil that has been infused with dried chili peppers and sometimes also additional ingredients. It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine, East and Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Particularly popular in Sichuan cuisine, it is used as an ingredient in cooked...
. It is not uncommon to find shito
Shito
Shitor Din, commonly called Shito is the word for pepper in the Ghanaian native language of the capital Accra. Whilst the word for pepper is different for each of the Ghanaian native languages, the word 'Shito' is widely used as the name for the hot black pepper sauce ubiquitous in Ghanaian cuisine...
being eaten with white bread
White bread
White bread is made from wheat flour from which the bran and the germ have been removed through a process known as milling. Milling gives white flour a longer shelf life by removing the bran which contains oil, allowing products made with it, like white bread, the ability to survive storage and...
or spring rolls. In most Chinese restaurants across Ghana, shito
Shito
Shitor Din, commonly called Shito is the word for pepper in the Ghanaian native language of the capital Accra. Whilst the word for pepper is different for each of the Ghanaian native languages, the word 'Shito' is widely used as the name for the hot black pepper sauce ubiquitous in Ghanaian cuisine...
replaces hot oil as a condiment to fried rice.