Nigerian Pepper Soup

Name: Nigerian Pepper Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Nigeria
Ingredients: 2 lbs goat meat or catfish, cut into pieces; 1 onion, chopped; 2 tbsp pepper soup spice blend; 1 tbsp ground crayfish; 2 scotch bonnet peppers, chopped; 1 tsp ground ginger; 4 cups water; Scent leaves (or basil), chopped; Seasoning cubes, to taste

6 servings15 min prep40 min cookEasy Nigeria

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Nigerian Pepper Soup

Story updated September 17, 2026

Nigerian pepper soup, a light, fiery broth built on ground pepper-soup spice blends, is a staple across the country's many ethnic groups, particularly associated with the Igbo and Efik/Calabar people. Traditionally made with goat meat, fish, or offal, it's often considered a restorative dish, served to new mothers or anyone recovering from illness.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

2 lbs goat meat or catfish, cut into pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp pepper soup spice blend
1 tbsp ground crayfish
2 scotch bonnet peppers, chopped
1 tsp ground ginger
4 cups water
Scent leaves (or basil), chopped
Seasoning cubes, to taste

Instructions

1Place goat meat, onion, ginger, and seasoning cubes in a pot with water and bring to a boil.
2Skim any foam and simmer 25-30 minutes until the meat is tender.
3Stir in pepper soup spice, crayfish, and scotch bonnet.
4Simmer another 10 minutes to let the spices infuse the broth.
5Add scent leaves just before serving and simmer 1-2 minutes.
6Serve hot in bowls as a light, spicy soup.

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