Once it’s Nigerian, you can’t take it away – it’s definitely Nigerian. Nigerian peppersoup is one of the most versatile broths in the world. Yes, in the world; as we just don’t care what it’s called anywhere else. It’s our pepper soup, and the only drinking stew we have at that.
The name doesn’t mean it’s insanely spicy – Not at all. It’s rather from the common factor of its ingredients. So you know what that means? It means you should definitely try your hands on making one for yourself and if possible get conversant with the simple procedures.
How to make Nigerian pepper soup: Tools needed
- Spice grinder
- Knives
- Chopping Board
- Spatula
How to make Nigerian peppersoup: Ingredients
- 4 seeds of calabash nutmegs (also Ehuri/Awiriwa/Ariwo)
- 1 kg chicken/ 1 Catfish/ Assorted beef (depending on the type of pepper soup you want to prepare)
- Chilli pepper (to taste)
- Salt (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon of thyme
- 3 teaspoons of dry basil leaves
- 5 litres of water
- 3 seasoning cubes
Notes
- If you are going for the chicken, try and a full chicken, as it would give you more flavour in your pepper soup. Wash it and dice up the whole chicken.
- If you’re going for assorted, get different parts of the beef. Wash them thoroughly and chunk them into biteable pieces when you are through with washing.
- If you’re going for catfish, clean it up and cut into 3-4 pieces. Soak in water
- Whichever kind of pepper soup style you choose wouldn’t disrupt the procedures, once you get your ingredients mixture right.
How to make Nigerian pepper soup: Instructions
- Pour the Ehuri seeds into an old frying pan to roast it. to know when it’s done, try removing the seed from the pod. If the pod comes off easily, it is.
- Grind the Ehuri seeds with the spice grinder
3. Place the chicken in a pot and add water to cover the content.
- Begin to heat (medium heat), add seasoning cubes, onion, thyme and salt.
- Stir and allow simmer until it boils.
6.Add a little more water (some quantity of water should have dried up)
- Add chilli pepper (Not too much), add the grounded Ehuri and the dry basil leaves.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and let it cook for 5-6 minutes (meat should be fully soft by now).
- Serve with white rice, boiled yam, baguette. You can also serve with boiled plantain.
Additional notes
- This instruction is for the chicken broth. For assorted beef or catfish, simply substitute it for chicken in the instruction.
- If you want, you can add lemon grass to the ingredients mixture. Dice it into tiny bits and introduce it at step 7 above.
- Nigeria is a multi-cultural country and the name a local item is called might be different from what it’s called somewhere else. Basil leaves is also known asEfinrin. You might want to find out what Ehuri is called in your own part of the country.
- Pepper soup is normally enjoyed hot and fresh.