Pepper soup is a common West African drinking soup. Similar to Creole gumbo, pepper soup is one of the most popular dishes in Nigeria. Pepper soup is a common preparation in Nigerian-American restaurants and homes, as well, particularly in the urban areas of New York City and Houston, Texas. The soup is traditionally eaten with the help of a starch base, often made from pounded yam, that is used as a scoop for individual bites. Pepper soup comes in a wide range of varieties, including meats like chicken, beef, or goat. Eastern Nigerian pepper soups tend to be less intensely spicy, while Western Nigerian-style preparations can be extremely hot.
Recipe Servings: 5
Ingredients
Spice Mix:
- 1.75 oz coriander seeds
- 1.75 oz cumin seeds
- 1.75 oz fennel seeds
- 1 oz (30 g) whole black peppercorns
- 1 oz cloves
- 1.75 oz allspice berries
- 1.75 oz dried ginger
- 1 oz ground cinnamon
Soup:
- 2 lbs of chicken or goat meat on the bone, cut into pieces
- 8 cups water
- 3 Tbsp spice mix (recipe below)
- 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
- 2 bouillon cubes
- Chili powder, to taste
- salt, to taste
- 2 tsp ground crayfish or ground dried shrimp, optional
Directions
- In a hot, dry pan, toast the coriander, cumin, fennel seeds, and black peppercorns until fragrant.
- Use a spice grinder to grind the whole spices. Combine all the spices and mix.
- Set aside 3 tablespoons spice mix to use in the pepper soup, and store the remainder to use when needed.
- In a large pot, heat the chopped meat with 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon spice mix, bouillon cubes, lemongrass, ground crayfish or shrimp, and a dash of salt and chili powder.
- When the soup is boiling, stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons spice mix and the water. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the soup for about 1½ hours, until the meat is tender but not falling apart.
- Remove the lemongrass stalk before serving.
For Spice Mix:
For Soup:
Notes
If desired, serve the soup over boiled yams. Pepper soup also may be made with any firm white fish or with beef; adjust cooking times for different cuts of meat or fish.
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