Fish Pepper Soup – A quick and easy robustly flavored African Fish Soup .
It is that time of the year again, for those of us that observe the Lenten Season. During this period we Catholics are obligated to abstain from meat on Fridays until the Easter season. This is one of my go to recipes that I make on Lenten Fridays – a really light yet intensely flavored peppery soup.
A soup that is widely enjoyed in most West African Countries and I would say a soup that can lead to so many variations.
If there is one recipe that I switch up each time is pepper soup. It all depends on availability of spices and my personal preference for that day.
What is inherent in pepper soup is the hot pepper; of course, the rest is up to the cook.
The basic ingredients that you need to enjoy pepper soup is hot pepper, onions, garlic, ginger then the list goes on with ethnic spices that range from Lemon grass, Njangsa, ehuri (African Nutmeg) Negro pepper, Alligator pepper to more universal spices like allspice, cumin, curry, fennel seeds and some fresh herbs. My favorite herb to use is basil, specifically Thai basil (when I can get my hands on it). It is slightly spicy and has licorice anise flavor and pairs beautifully with fish.
With most pepper soup, it is preferable to add the spices along with the meat. But since fish is so delicate I do it differently. Add the fish the last 10-15 minutes before turning off the stove. You may blend all the spices, boil for about 10 minutes add the fish and simmer for another 10 minutes depending on your fish.
Enjoy!!!
Watch How To Make It
Fish Pepper Soup – A quick and easy robustly flavored African Fish Soup.
- 2- 2½ pound white firm fish cut in desired pieces
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 or more hot pepper chopped or whole scotch bonnet, chili
- 1 Tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons or more diced celery
- ½ medium onion diced
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 3-4 leaves basil chopped
- 1-2 green onion chopped whites and green parts
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 teaspoon bouillon powder
- Ethnic spices listed above optional
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Heat a saucepan with a about 1 tablespoon of oil add garlic, ginger, bay leaf, paprika and hot pepper sauté for about a minute.
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Throw in onions, celery, white pepper, green onions, bouillon powder and any other spices. Continue stirring for another minute.
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Add about 3-4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
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Add fish, basil and salt. Continue cooking until fish is cooked (about 10 minutes or more). Add water if necessary
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Adjust seasonings, thickness of soup with water and spices. Remove bay leaf
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Serve with boiled green plantains, rice or own it’s own.
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Place all the spices (except bay leaf) in the blender or food processor. Pulse until everything is puree.
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Place in a saucepan with bay leaf then, add water about 3-4 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. Then add fish bring continue cooking until fish is cooked. Discard bay leaf, add water if necessary.
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Adjust for seasonings and thickness. Serve warm.
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Enjoy!
- Add the fish the last 10-15 minutes before turning off the stove. You may blend all the spices, boil for about 10 minutes add the fish and simmer for another 10 minutes depending on your fish.
Did you use regular oil or palm oil?
I use regular vegetable or canola oil.
Its nice but apart from bouillon powder is there any other thing u can use?
You can leave it out completely.And add more spices , taste as you cook.
Ohhh this looks amazing. I want to make this, but I would like to make it as authentic as possible. Would you recommend that I use all of the african spices that you listed or to just follow your recipe as it? Also, what type of bullion do you use?
Hello Glad 🙂 ,
If you can easily get a hold of the other African spices I would say Go for it! If you can’t, no worries. It will still be delicious!
Made this yesterday…..it was so good. I added corn, a little potatoes, carrots, and shrimp. I used boneless cod fish….the flavors were awesome.
That’s good to know . Thanks for the feedback.
That sounds delicious! Will try that soon. Thanks for stopping by!!
I made this tonight for the first time and i must say I really enjoyed it. Surprisingly my kids did as well, they always say they dont like fish. Tonight they liked this soup. I always come to your site to try to cook new things. Mostly because my husband is Nigerian so I’m learning dishes I can make for him. Thank you. I used catfish nuggets worked just fine.
Oh and i used Thai basil like you suggested that you like to use. I never even new it existed. I chewed a fresh piece. It does have a light licorice lemony taste to it but it doesn’t come out it the soup strongly.
Thank you for taking the time to let me know. Glad to hear your family loves it. 🙂
OMG, I just tried this recipe and it was a HUGE hit with my family. This is a keeper for sure. Thank you so much for sharing this !!!! I had no idea about smoked paprika!! So much flavor!! Awesome!!
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback
I want to make this soup…i have some Ida clusters can that be used as my ethnic spice or should I omit it…what is in ethnic spice?
Yes it can- as long as you enjoy the flavor of the spice.
I’m excited about this recipe and I can’t wait to try it out.
Please do let me know how it turns out for you, Grace! Happy weekend!
Hello imma my name is vennetta im looking forward to cooking your fish soup during this lent. Ive been looking for ways to cook fish soup and this recipe sounds right up my street. Thanks again
Awesome! Do let me know how it works out for you. Thanks
I absolutely love your recipes, this is the 3rd one I’ve tried and they have all been outstanding. This soup was a huge hit and I can see it becoming a regular weeknight dinner for years to come. I used flounder because it’s what I had on hand and it was just lovely. The flavors were warm and spicy, and this recipe gives me so many options to play with new spices and flavor profiles. Thank you for sharing your beautiful recipes!
Aww… thanks Amy So thrilled you would take time out to let me know.
Hi Immaculate,
What fish did you use for this recipe?
Hi Bisi, I used catfish .
Wow I love this am from Nigeria the way we cook our pepper soup is not this way but I live it because it colourful and am going to try it for my practical
Awesome! Do let me know how it works out for you.
I love your recipes, they give me life. I always try something and then want to make it at home and you have made that possible. Do you have suggestions for the kind of fish? I will try this one next week.
It really doesn’t matter – any white fish will do. I have tried different varieties and they all do just fine- Have not tried it with salmon.
I’ve made this twice, and we loved it both times. I omitted the hot pepper as it was hot enough for us and added cooked soba noodles to the final soup.
Yes to soba Noodles. Always a great addition to soups. Thanks for taking the time to share .
Cletus, so happy to hear it hit the spot and thanks for the feedback!!!
Thanks. It has been cold along the east coast this winter so this pepper soup is just what the doctor ordered. We followed your recipe but added a little njansa. Yum yum yum.
Thanks
This fish soup looks so flavoursome, aromatic and delicious – just like all your food! It’s perfect for lent, so I have to make it.
Thanks Thalia. Now go make it!
Oh my gosh, this looks and sounds amazing! So happy to have discovered your blog. You’ve got some seriously good looking recipes on here!!
Thanks Brooke!!
I have some unused pieces of fish in the freezer. They’ve been knocking around for months now, since I’ve been drinking plenty of veggie soup for the cold weather. I will make this tomorrow since it’s traditional for Caribbean people to drink soup on Saturdays.
Charlene, I never knew that! And am surrounded by Caribbean people. I guess not everyone follows tradition. Well let me know what you think of this soup.
Thanks for another fabulous recipe 🙂 For the ethnic spices…. what combination of them do you recommend? I have all of them and I’m very tempted to add all of them… but that may not be such a great idea….lol! Thanks again.
Nullacia, I would say about 2-3 ethnic spices, start adding about 1 teaspoon of each( if you have them ground already) do a taste test as you add in the pot. You know some spices are stronger than others.
African nutmeg is really strong and if you add too much it becomes bitter-So go easy on with that.
Njansa thickens the soup but can be overwhelming too. I usually just add about 1 teaspoon . Unless am making really thick pepper soup. Let me know if you have any more questions. Do let me know how it works for you . Thanks
I’m almost waiting for you to run out of ideas that continue to wow me. How is it possible that someone has such an amazing stash of recipes up their sleeve? Fish soup would ordinarily never catch my eye. Yours? Flavor kapow. I want. Now.
Thanks Nagi. You have got to try this African Fish soup, I know you would love it.
Looks yummy I need to try it.
Teejay , let me know how it works for you!
I got all the ingredients Making this for a late lunch
Awesome! Do let me know how it works out for you.