Pepper Soup (Nigerian Goat Meat Pepper Soup)
In short: A thin, fiercely aromatic broth of goat meat, scotch bonnet and warm Nigerian spices, eaten hot as a starter or a restorative meal. It takes about 1 h 45 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 25 min
- Total
- 1 h 45 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 155 kcal
Pepper soup is a thin, peppery broth that Nigerians eat when it rains, when they have a cold and when friends gather for drinks. Goat meat is the classic choice, but catfish, chicken and beef are all common. The flavor comes from a blend of local spices, chili and fresh scent leaves, with very little oil. Served in deep bowls, it is meant to make you sweat a little and feel better afterward.
Instructions
- Rinse the goat meat and put it in a large pot with the onion, ginger, garlic, salt and 1 liter (4 cups) of the water. Bring to a boil and skim off the foam that rises.
- Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Stir in the pepper soup spice mix, scotch bonnets, crayfish and the remaining 500 ml (2 cups) of water. Cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes more, until the meat is tender and pulls easily from the bone.
- Taste the broth and adjust the salt and heat. It should be thin, peppery and aromatic, with a slight tingle on the tongue.
- Add the scent leaves and simmer for 2 minutes, just until they wilt.
- Ladle into deep bowls with plenty of broth and serve piping hot, with extra chili on the side.
Tips
- No pepper soup spice mix? For this pot, use 2 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 2 tsp ground black pepper, 2 tsp ground ginger and 1 tsp cayenne.
- Lamb shoulder or beef shin can replace the goat, though beef shin needs about 30 minutes longer. For catfish pepper soup, simmer thick steaks in the finished broth for only 10 to 12 minutes.
Questions and answers
What is pepper soup traditionally served with?
It is eaten on its own as a starter or light meal, sometimes with boiled yam, plantain or rice on the side. At parties and bars it is served alongside cold drinks.
Is pepper soup meant to be very hot?
It is peppery and warming, and the heat should be pleasantly sharp. Use one scotch bonnet for a mild pot and add more at the end if you want extra heat.
Can I make pepper soup in a pressure cooker?
Yes. A pressure cooker tenderizes goat in about 25 minutes. Add the scent leaves after releasing the pressure so they stay green and fragrant.
How long does it take to make Pepper Soup (Nigerian Goat Meat Pepper Soup)?
About 1 h 45 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pepper Soup (Nigerian Goat Meat Pepper Soup)?
About 155 kcal per serving, with 25 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 4 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 155 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 480 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
