Perfect for easy supper, parties, to feed a crowd and any special occasion. Do check out the easy step-by-step images on how to make this Pepper Soup on the stove top, in the Instant Pot or in a slow cooker. Suitable for Gluten-Free, Paleo and Keto diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points. Even better is that this is THE soup to feed a crowd. You can easily quadruple the recipe, just cook ahead of time and warm up as guests arrive.
What is African Pepper Soup?
Pepper Soup is eaten widely across West Africa as an everyday soup, or the dish that is served at the end of every single party, is known as the all illness curing soup (on the same level as chicken soup) and can be found equally at street stalls, restaurants and homes all across Africa. The star ingredient in this African Soup is pepper (aka chilli). And you can make your soup as hot or as mild as you want. If you are a fan of mild you can start with about a quarter of a deseeded scotch bonnet or habanero chili. If you prefer it hot then start with 1-2 chillis.
The remaining ingredients always include some form of protein (eg beef, chicken, fish, offal), lots and lots of water as this is a soup ‘to drink’, onions and a selection of spices that is personalised to each cook. I have given you a basic (yet tasty) recipe as a starting point for you to experiment to your heart’s content. It is easily adaptable; sweet potatoes, cassava, yams and plantains are a popular addition to this soup. If you add them then please cut them small enough so that they cook quickly. Chefs Tip – Pepper Soup has got to be eaten warm, cold Pepper Soup just does not cut it.
African Pepper Soup Tools
So are you ready to try your hand at some African Pepper Soup? Then gather all your ingredients and let me show you …. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclosure. Here are some of the items you will need to make this recipe.
8 qt Instant Pot.
I use and love the 8qt, my extra Instant Pot Insert & sealing ring.
3 qt Instant Pot or 6 qt Instant Pot depending on family size. Cutting board. Knife. Spatula Measuring jugs or cups. Measuring teaspoons. Pot. Bowls with covers.
Store leftover soup in these bowls.
How to Cook Pepper Soup
Step 1. Mix together meat, onion, garlic, ginger, the peppers and thyme in your pot. Step 2. Add the water, bring to boil and reduce to a rolling simmer for 15 mins. Step 3. Add the tomato puree and season with salt and simmer for another 10-15 mins until the beef is done.
Add water…
Adding in the tomato puree…
Yeap, 3 easy steps to your very own African Pepper Soup.
Instant Pot Pepper Soup
Making instant Pot Pepper Soup is a breeze. You would need to reduce the water to 900mls. Step 1. Add everything to the Instant Pot, close the lid and set the vent to seal. Step 2. Select the manual or pressure cook button (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 20 mins. Step 3. Do a natural pressure release, open, adjust seasoning and serve.
Slow Cooker Pepper Soup
Slow Cooker Pepper Soup is also immensely easy to whip up. You would need to reduce the water to 900ml. Step 1. Add everything to the slow cooker and close the lid. Step 2. Cook on high for 4-5 hrs and on low for 6-8 hrs.
Tips For Making The Perfect African Pepper Soup At Home
Mincing the onions, garlic and ginger means everything cooks quickly as well as flavours the soup. If the meat is tough you would need a little bit extra cooking time – and test the meat every 15 mins. You may prefer to cook it in a pressure cooker to reduce meat cooking time. This soup is a drinking kind of soup so add a little bit more liquid if you want. This recipe calls for fresh chilli but you can easily use some chilli flakes or chilli powder instead. A squeeze of lime adds a little extra depth to this soup.
Goat Meat Pepper Soup
Prefer Goat Meat Pepper Soup instead? Then simply substitute the beef for goat meat and cook as normal. Equally tasty with its own unique flavour so favoured across West Africa.
Nigerian Pepper Soup
To make this a Nigerian Pepper Soup you would add a tablespoon or two of Pepper soup spice which can include spices such as coriander seeds, cloves, cinnamon and allspice along with a fragrant treat like basil or lemongrass. Please feel free to experiment away.
How to Make Pepper Soup with Fish
To make pepper soup with fish you would need to replace the meat with fish. If using fish you would need to cut the fish into large steaks and add in the final 8-10 mins of cooking. Make sure not to stir the fish to avoid breaking up the fish steaks.
How to Freeze African Pepper Soup
Let the soup cool down then transfer into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags. Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags. Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer. Store the soup in the freezer for 3 months.
How to Thaw African Pepper Soup
Remove the soup from the freezer the night before needed and let it thaw in the fridge. For a faster thaw, you can add the bagged soup into a microwave and thaw according to the microwave’s instructions. Transfer the thawed soup into a bowl and reheat in a microwave. Or transfer the thawed soup into a saucepan and reheat over low to medium heat.
Weight Watchers Points in African Pepper Soup
There are 3 Freestyle points per serving of African Pepper Soup.
Reader Feedback
Reader Hina so kindly recreated this recipe with her own modifications. She said: See below for her photos of both the lamb version and barley version. Thank you Hina.
More African Recipes
Puff Puff. Cassava Leaves. Okra Sauce. Jollof Rice.
Thank you for reading my African Pepper Soup recipe post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for reading Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
