In the Nigerian society, pepper soup is a local delicacy served in parties and some homes. It is recommended for mothers who have just put to bed, and those who are  down with fever as the high medicinal contents have the  potency to  cure. It is also good for the  cold weather because it keeps  one warm from the inside.  Pepper soup may be served alone or taken with boiled yam, boiled plantain or white rice. TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE looks at the different ways of cooking this local soup.
Assorted meat pepper soup
Ingredients
4oog assorted cow meat cut into pieces
1½ tablespoonfuls ground calabash nutmeg, uda seed, alligator pepper seed and dried ginger root
Chilli pepper
2 teaspoon dry basil leaves
1 tablespoon ground crayfish
2 stock cubes
Sliced onions
Salt to taste
Method
Clean and cook assorted meat
add salt, stock cubes and onions
When meat is done, add ground pepper, ground crayfish, ground pepper soup mix,
stir and cover for 15 minutes.
Serve hot
Catfish pepper soup
Ingredients
1 whole catfish (cut and cleansed)
1 teaspoon of pepper soup mix
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
2 stock cubes
2 cups stock or water
Utazi or bitter leaf
Salt to taste
Method
Place cleansed fish in pot, add stock or water.
Put on medium heat
Add in pepper soup mix, salt, stock cube, oil and utazi or bitter leaf.
Cover and boil for 10 minutes
Serve hot.
Chicken pepper soup
Ingredients
1.5kg whole chicken, cut into serving chunks
2 litres of water or chicken stock
50g chopped fresh scotch bonnet chillies
100g pepper soup spices
1Â piece of onion, chopped
Chopped saint leaves
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 stock cubes
Salt
Method
Wash chicken, cut into serving chunks and add some water.
Add chopped onion, chillies, stock cubes, crushed garlic and salt and cook.
When it is tender, pepper soup spices and boil for another 10 minutes.
Lace soup with sliced saint leaves
Serve hot in soup bowls
and then