Irresistiblyummy

Ah, pepper soup, where do I start? I’m Nigerian, so you already know we have an intense attachment to pepper soup. From having it at events to enjoying it when ill, pepper soup has always been there for us.

It also helps that Nigeria is a spicy country, and pepper soup fits right in—it belongs. Pepper soup is that versatile dish you can enjoy with white rice, boiled yam, boiled potatoes, or even on its own.

I grew up enjoying pepper soup. I remember my mother making and serving this bowl of deliciousness that would leave my nose runny, but I never complained because that’s one of the many beauties of pepper soup.

As an adult, after buying pepper soup and being disappointed time and time again, I decided to make it myself. I’ve tried it with various proteins, but this tilapia pepper soup recipe is amazing. Everyone who tries it raves about it, and we don’t gatekeep here. I’ve decided to bless the world with the most delicious pepper soup recipe. Oh, I forgot to mention, it’s made with pepper soup spice I made myself because what’s going on with store-bought pepper soup spices these days?

The Best Nigerian Tilapia Pepper Soup Recipe

Below is the award-winning Nigerian tilapia pepper soup, your best companion for a rainy or cold day.

Pepper Soup Spice Ingredients

• ½ tsp alligator pepper.
• 2 African nutmeg.
• 2-3 pods of uda (negro pepper). 

Pepper Soup Ingredients

• Pepper soup spice.
• 2 medium sized tilapia fish. 
• 2 bouillon cube.
• ½ onions (sliced or blended). 
• 1 inch cut of ginger. 
• 1 tbsp of fish powder.
• 1 tsp of ground dried pepper. 
• 1 tsp of salt.
• 3 cups of water. 
• 1.5 Inch of uhio (Aidan fruit). 
• A handful of shredded/sliced scent leaf.

Equipment

• Pot 
• Spoon 
• Chopping board 
• Knife 

Preparing the Pepper Soup Spice

• Roast the African Nutmeg for about a minute on each side and shell.
• In a mortar or blender, add the shelled African nutmeg, alligator pepper and Uda, blend/ pound and set aside.

Making the Pepper Soup

• Cut the fishes into desired sizes and rinse thoroughly  
• In a pot add diced or blended onion, water, salt, pepper, 1 stock cube and bring to a boil.
• Add fish. 
• Once the fish starts boiling, add the pepper soup spices, the reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. 
• Add Scent leaf, fish powder and Uhio.
• Adjust for salt and pepper. 
• Leave to simmer for 2-3 minutes.  
• Serve hot with rice, bread.

You can enjoy your tilapia pepper soup with boiled yam, boiled rice or alone. Tilapia pepper soup can be served at home, especially when it cold and rainy or when one is ill or in events such as Nigerian parties. You can make it for your guests.