Nigerian Pepper Soup from Port Harcourt

Pepper soup is a spicy hot soup from Nigeria, typically made with chicken or fish.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium size fish (tilapia, catfish or bream)
• 1 lemon or lime
• 2 oz pepper-soup seasoning
• 2 oz chopped chillies
• 4 oz fresh prawns
• 2 pints water or stock
• l oz chopped mint leaves

Preparation:

1. Clean the fish and slice into 8 pieces. Wash the fish thoroughly with lime or lemon. Season with salt, cover and let rest for 10-25 minutes.
2. Pour the stock into a clean pot and add chopped onions chillies and pepper-soup seasoning. Bring to a boil and boil rapidly for 15 minutes to belnd the flavors.
3. Add the seasoned fish and peeled fresh prawns and simmer gently for 20 minutes.
4. Check seasoning and serve garnished with chopped mint leaves

Pepper-soup seasoning:
Traditional:

• 1 tbsp atariko
• 1 tbsp uda
• 1 tbsp gbafilo
• 1 tbsp dried ginger
• 1 tbsp rigije
• 1 tbsp uyayak

• 1 tbsp aniseed
• 1 tbsp aniseed pepper
• 1 tbsp cloves
• 1/2 tbsp coriander seeds
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp allspice
• 1 tbsp dried ginger
• 1 tbsp tamarind pods
• 1 tbsp fennel seeds