‘Tis the season for peppermints and cuddles, sweaters and candles, soups and hot chocolate; and, if you’re West African, it’s definitely Peppersoup season. There are various ways to enjoy this soup, the heat level is all yours to decide. Your choice of protein is one to consider before gathering your ingredients. You have options ranging from different kinds of fish to white or red meats. While you can choose your tolerable heat level, it definitely requires some heat.
Growing up, Turkey Peppersoup was my favorite. I remember being super excited every time we ordered it from our favorite neighborhood vendor. Now, my absolute favorite kind is Catfish Peppersoup. It is the way the catfish breaks apart tenderly and gently introduces all the flavors of this spicy soup to my tastebuds that has me weak in the knees for it. Being armed with ample information on the many benefits of Peppersoup also has me reaching for its ingredients just about every time I have a craving for it.
In addition to eating your favorite kind of Peppersoup for its deliciousness, there are also many health benefits to be gained. Peppersoup is made with nutritious herbs and spices that are known for aiding digestion. This soup also contains nutrients that help you drive away colds and flu, are great for treating respiratory issues, and are good for heart health. It increases metabolism which is good for weight loss. It is robust in flavors and gets your tastebuds ecstatic.
Photo by Phoenixwb
- Peppersoup Ingredients:
- Utensils/Appliances Needed For Peppersoup:
- Instructions For Making Peppersoup:
Peppersoup Ingredients:
Catfish | Your choice of Protein
Peppersoup Spice
Hot Pepper (To Taste)
Dried Crayfish (2 Tbs)
Dried Scent Leaves or Basil Leaves
Onion (1, Chopped)
Garlic (1 clove, Chopped)
Ginger (½ Tsp, Chopped)
Bouillon Powder (To Taste)
Salt (To Taste)
Cameroon Pepper (Optional)
Utensils/Appliances Needed For Peppersoup:
Bowl (For cleaning fish or meat)
Knife
Cooking Pot
Serving Spoon
Instructions For Making Peppersoup:
For your convenience, gather all ingredients and utensils before you start cooking. Clean your choice of meat or fish to your satisfaction. In order to be precise, we will be focusing on Catfish Peppersoup Recipe in this article. Bear in mind that you will be able to use this same recipe for any kind of Peppersoup. The only difference is in the duration of time your choice of meat or fish takes to cook.
If, like me, you choose to make Catfish Peppersoup, use hot water, lemon/lime, and salt to scrub off the dirt or slime that is typically stuck on catfish. Soak the catfish in mildly hot water, lemon/lime, and salt for about 10 minutes. Soaking catfish in hot water helps it not to break apart when cooking. The hot water, salt, and lemon/lime solution makes scrubbing the dirt or slime off easier.
Place the clean fish or choice of protein in the cooking pot. Add peppersoup spice, some dried scent leaves (If you are lucky enough to find fresh basil or scent leaves, you should wait till the meat in the soup is almost done to add the basil or scent leaves), the chopped onions, the chopped hot pepper, the two tablespoons of crayfish, Bouillon powder to taste, your preferred seasonings to taste, and add salt if necessary. Add enough water to cover your fish or meat. Turn your stove on to medium heat and let your Peppersoup cook.
If you choose to use catfish, it should be tender after about 25 minutes. For other kinds of fish or meats, adjust the cooking duration to what is required. Add fresh basil or scent leaves and let it boil with your soup for about 5 minutes before the Peppersoup is fully ready.
This soup is often enjoyed as a meal with white rice, cold pap (eko, akamu), yams, or by itself. In Nigeria, this soup is mostly sold in the evening at local lounges called Beer Parlours. It is mostly served with the customer’s choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. The sound of loud music has their patrons gyrating as they enjoy the choice of Peppersoup and drink they have most likely earned after a hard day’s work.
If you tried the recipe above, let us know how you found it. Hopefully, it helps you to fulfill your craving.
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