Soups and stews are major parts of Nigerian meals. Pepper soup can be made with your choice of meat, chicken, fish with a blend of different spices and other condiments. It can be served with rice, yam, and potatoes. Note: it’s very spicccyyyyyyy and best served hot!
My pepper soup story…
Growing up, my dad was a huge fan of pepper soup because of its health benefits. Every little bowl is tremendously nutritious. Unfortunately, at this time, I was about 15 years old, and I was a novice when it came to preparing pepper soup. My dad would insist on me taking okada (motor bike) just to get it for him. He would always give me 1500 naira for 1 plate of pepper, fortunately for me, 1 plate was 1000 naira; as a sharp girl, I did not bother telling my dad the actual price, and I got to keep 500 naira every time I went to buy him pepper soup (hehe) the 500 naira was the reward for my trouble. When I got into university, I developed love for pepper soup. I automatically loved anyone who bought or prepared me a bowl of pepper soup. I strongly believe that you can never go wrong with a bowl of pepper soup.
Now, all grown … pepper soup is a quick fix for me and its very medicinal especially during this pandemic.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Basil or scent leaf: basil is an excellent source of Vitamin K, Manganese, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, also a good source of Calcium, Magnesium and Omega-3 fatty acid. All these nutritional benefits in one bowl of soup.
Cameroon pepper helps to prevent indigestion, it has antioxidant properties.
Pepper soup spice is a blend of all these spice (alligator peppers, selim pepper, calabash nutmeg, cloves)
Alligator pepper are a good source of Phyto nutrients such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compound. The leaves are also used for preparing herbal medicines for preventing malaria.
Calabash nutmeg helps in treating bad breath, antiseptic in nature. Helps in getting rid of flatulence. diarrhea and improves appetite as well.
Cloves are an excellent source of manganese also, vitamin K and dietary fiber.
Here’s how you can prepare yours…
- 5 Irish potatoes
- Basil
- Cameroon pepper
- Pepper soup spice
- Ginger
- Fish/ meat of your choice
- Onions
- Salt
- Stock cubes
- Boil potatoes in water, until tender for like 15min
- Drain and put in a serving bowl
- Parboil fish(optional) to take out impurities, drain and put in bowl
- In a medium sized pan, pour 2 cups of water, bring to a boil over medium heat
- Add pepper soup spice, ginger, Cameroon pepper, salt and stock cubes, let it boil for like 5 mins
- Add your parboiled fish/meat (your choice), let it boil for 5min
- Add your potatoes and basil
- Let it simmer for 15min
- Turn off heat and serve.
HAVE YOU TRIED PEPPERSOUP? LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS OR IF YOU PLAN TO GIVE IT A TRY…
WRITTEN BY: REGINA AKINOLA
O. FOODIES
