Pepper soup is an enjoyable and hot Nigerian food which is famous for its tasty sauce and fragrant spices. It can be prepared with different kinds of meat or fish. Here is a recipe for classic Nigerian pepper soup using chicken.

Chicken Pepper Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken, cut into pieces (or chicken drumsticks/thighs)

2 onions, chopped

3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

2 inches of ginger, grated

2-3 scotch bonnet peppers (adjust according to your spice preference), chopped

2-3 tablespoons of ground crayfish (optional)

2 tablespoons of ground dried pepper or chili powder

2-3 stock cubes (chicken or vegetable)

1 handful of scent leaves or basil leaves (substitute with parsley or cilantro if unavailable)

Salt to taste

Water

Instructions:

Clean the chicken thoroughly and put in it a big pot.

Add the cut onions, minced garlic, grated ginger, chopped scotch bonnet peppers, ground crayfish if available, dried pepper powder and stock cubes to the pot.

Pour enough water over the chicken and put on some heat until it begins boiling.

When it starts boiling reduce the heat and allow it to cook for approximately 30-40 minutes such that the chicken will become tender as well as cooked inside.

Taste the soup to adjust the seasoning by adding salt if necessary.

Add scent leaves/basil leaves/parsley/cilantro depending on what you have and let simmer for another 5-10 minutes.

Serve hot with accompanying side dish.

The soup is best served with rice or bread as a side dish.

Health Benefits of Chicken Pepper Soup

Pepper soup doesn’t just titillate the taste buds but also offers some health rewards:

Immune Booster: Ginger, garlic and peppers in the ingredients of the pepper soup are acknowledged for their immune boosting abilities enriched with antioxidants and vitamins.

Aids Digestion: Pepper soups’ spices and herbs like ginger, basil leaves act as digestive aids relieving digestive issues.

Anti-inflammatory Properties: Ginger, peppers are an example of some spices and herbs used in making pepper soups that can potentially reduce inflammations in the body.

Rich in Protein: For instance, if it is made of chicken or other meats, pepper soup can be valuable source of protein which helps to repair muscles as well as performing other functions in human body.

Remember that you can adjust the spices according to your preferences. Additionally, you can make your own version of this tasty soup by adding different types of meat or fish and various kinds of vegetables.