Catfish pepper soup is another variation of Nigerian pepper soup. This pepper soup packed full of flavour from the natural ingredients used. It is cooked with some yam and plantain, it is so comforting and utterly delicious. It is extremely easy and quick to make, a simple Nigerian side dish that is perfect for all weather.
Nigerian Pepper soup
Some few weeks ago, one of my Instagram buddies posted catfish pepper soup and tagged me. Her picture got me drooling and craving. I told her I was going to make mine...
Anyway, long story short, I made catfish pepper soup that night under the pretence that it would help my cold at the time. I tell you what; that pepper soup remains one of the best I have made.
I added some potatoes to the pepper soup and boy oh boy they took the whole dish to another level. The whole thing was ready in half an hour. Catfish pepper soup is another variation of Nigerian pepper soup. You can also substitute the potato for yam or plantain and you can use the addition of both.
In Nigeria, pepper soup cooked with yam and any other protein of choice like beef, poultry and fish. Pepper soup is very easy to make but I prefer the fish version as it would literally take you less than 20 minutes to make if feeding about 6 people.
Nigerian pepper soup is usually made hot (very spicy) but you can adjust the hotness to suit your need. It is made hot as it known for its cold remedy.
Ingredients
Catfish steaks
Cayenne pepper
Vegetable oil
Pepper soup spice mix (home-made/shop bought)
Seasoning cubes or powder (I used Nigerian Knorr cubes) substitute with beef bouillon or chicken powder
Salt (use according to preference) start with ½ tsp and adjust to preference
Fresh garlic, peeled and sliced
Fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
Onion, chopped
Fresh tomato, sliced
Lime or lemon juice
Chopped basil or scent leaves (efirin)
Large potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks (substitute with yam or plantain)
Water
Nigerian Pepper soup cooked with My Active Kitchen Pepper Soup Spice
How to make catfish pepper soup
Wash, clean and gut fish with lime/lemon juice to get rid of the sliminess. Season with some salt and set aside. also prep the other ingredients too
Place a pan on medium heat, add about 1 litre of water, pepper soup spice mix, cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger, onions, seasoning, vegetable oil and bring to boil, this should be around 5 minutes. Add potatoes or yam chunks and continue to boil till potato is about 70% done.
If you will be using plantain, add it into the soup the same time you add the fish as it doesn't take that long to cook. You still want it to be firm when the fresh fish is cooked.
Add catfish to the sauce and cook for another 5 minutes. Check for salt and seasoning.
Add sliced tomatoes and chopped basil and cook for another 5 minutes. Do not overcook the fish and stir gently to avoid breaking the fish.
Serve warm and enjoy.x
Don't leave without checking my assorted meat pepper soup recipe. It is the best!!!
Catfish pepper soup
Ingredients
- 4-8 pieces of catfish steak cut from a whole catfish.
- 1 tbsp cayenne pepper or more
- 1-2 tbsp vegetable oil optional
- 2 tbsp Nigerian pepper soup mix home-made/shop bought
- Seasoning powder of choice I used 2 Knorr beef cubes (Nigerian brand) substitute with 1 tsp bouillon chicken powder. (Jumbo is a good brand)
- Salt to taste use according to preference
- 1 tsp fresh garlic chopped
- 1 tsp fresh ginger chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 fresh tomato sliced optional
- ½ cup chopped basil or scent leaves (efirin in Nigeria) substitute with 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 semi ripe plantain
- 2-3 potatoes or yam peeled and cut in chunks (substitute with yam or plantain)
- juice of 2 whole lime or lemon (about ⅓ cup) to clean catfish
- Water
Instructions
- Wash, clean and gut fish with lime/lemon juice to get rid of the sliminess. Sprinkle with some salt to season and set aside. Also prep the other ingredients too
- Place a pan on medium heat, add about 1 litre of water, pepper soup mix, cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger, onions, seasoning, vegetable oil and bring to boil, this should be around 5 minutes. Add potatoes chunks or yam and continue to boil till potato/yam is about 70% done.
- If you would be using plantain, add it when you add the fish as it cooks in under 10 minutes. You don’t want it to be overcooked
- Add catfish pieces to the sauce and cook for another 5 minutes. Check for salt and seasoning.
- Add sliced tomatoes and chopped basil and cook for another 5 minutes. Do not overcook the fish and stir gently to avoid breaking the fish.
- Serve hot or warm and enjoy.
Recipe originally published in May 2015, updated with pictures in May 2019 and republished in July 2020 for housekeeping purposes.
If you made this Nigerian catfish pepper soup recipe, don’t forget to leave me feedback. Tag me on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest
Your recipe calls for 1 tbsp. of Cayenne! Is that correct or did you mean 1 tsp?
Yes, Griff, Nigerian pepper soup is usually hot and spicy, however, you can adjust the level of hotness to taste.
Thank you very much. This is impressive
Thank you