Fish Pepper Soup Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Harriet

Suggestions please where to purchase the African spices.

Dj

I looked online for a substitute for one of the spices and came across this list on a British/Nigerian cooking blog. I figure, I’ve never had the soup before, and don’t hunger for the authentic version, so what does it matter? Seems like this can be as varied as chicken soup anyway. 60 g Aniseed pepper (Sichuan/Szechuan peppercorns) 30 g Black pepper25 g Cloves25 g Ground cinnamon50 g Coriander seeds 50 g Cumin seeds50 g Allspice50 g Dried ginger50 g Tamarind seeds 50 g Fennel seed

Christina

We ordered the pepper soup spice mix from Amazon and my husband and I both agreed that it read as Old Bay without the salt. As Marylanders, that wasn't a problem for us at all. The herbs are absolutely essential and the texture of the fish was lovely (we used rockfish). The aroma of the stock as it's simmering for an hour was quite strong, but in the end, the dish was really tasty. We served with a melange of roasted red onions, sweet potatoes and okra to round out the meal.

Chin Eny

Amazing recipe. I used the store bought pepper soup seasoning which saved me time and was also amazing. The herbs at the end really give it life especially the Thai Basil. Makes a great dinner with a side of jellof rice and plantains.

Barbara

Many grocery stores also carry fish bouillon in the Asian/Hispanic sections of the store, if you do not have access to or don't want to make the stock from scratch.

Allyson

This was pretty tasty, and not as spicy as I was worried it would be. I bought pre-made pepper spice mix, and had the fishmonger filet a black bass, making this really easy with almost no active time.

Todd

Unfortunately, this did not turn out well. We ordered the spice mix, and the black cardamon pods, follow the other ingredients to a tee.It smelled very not good as it was cooking, and the finished product was wildly spicy (coughing fit spicy), but lacked a depth of flavor. It tasted almost like I'd added two tablespoons of black pepper, bleh.What's odd is that the soup doesn't have any oil in it, or acid. Fish soup with no acid?I ate a bowl and tossed the rest, boo.

Todd

Eight dried chilis AND a habenero? Is this edible for everyday folks?

Christina

We ordered the pepper soup spice mix from Amazon and my husband and I both agreed that it read as Old Bay without the salt. As Marylanders, that wasn't a problem for us at all. The herbs are absolutely essential and the texture of the fish was lovely (we used rockfish). The aroma of the stock as it's simmering for an hour was quite strong, but in the end, the dish was really tasty. We served with a melange of roasted red onions, sweet potatoes and okra to round out the meal.

Dj

I looked online for a substitute for one of the spices and came across this list on a British/Nigerian cooking blog. I figure, I’ve never had the soup before, and don’t hunger for the authentic version, so what does it matter? Seems like this can be as varied as chicken soup anyway. 60 g Aniseed pepper (Sichuan/Szechuan peppercorns) 30 g Black pepper25 g Cloves25 g Ground cinnamon50 g Coriander seeds 50 g Cumin seeds50 g Allspice50 g Dried ginger50 g Tamarind seeds 50 g Fennel seed

Tholzel

More heresy: Use Progresso canned "chicken and gumbo soup" as a base for this concoction!

Sakinah

https://jale.co/shop This place looks good for the spices. Thankfully there are many African markets in Maryland so I hope I will find them.

DR If

Any suggestions for replacements for the gbafilo seed, uziza seed and grains of paradise?

Ugo

Any other name for gbafilo seeds?

Sue

This sounds very intriguing and I would like to try. I am wondering if there might be suggested substitutions for some of the spices. Thanks!

Jackie

I googled the African Pepper Soup spices and saw some on Amazon, among other websites (Etsy).

Harriet

Suggestions please where to purchase the African spices.

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Fish Pepper Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is it called a fish pepper? ›

By 1870, particularly in Baltimore and in Philadelphia, the pepper became a popular ingredient among the Black community and was commonly used in many crab houses and oyster bars (hence the name "fish pepper").

What to do with fish peppers? ›

Other than creamy fish sauces, fish peppers can also be incorporated into meals to add moderate levels of heat and are often used in hot sauces and salsas. You can chop it up, bite it whole, or grind and puree it to make it blend in. Many people also enjoy the sweet and spicy flavor of pickled fish peppers.

How hot is a fish pepper? ›

Fish Pepper Scoville Scale Rating

If you are familiar with jalapeños, then consider this one step up in heat level. To put it simply, fish peppers range from 5,000-30,000 SHUs on the Scoville scale. This places the pepper between the jalapeño and the serrano pepper for heat.

Is Pepper Soup a starter? ›

Pepper soup mix is a traditional African style soup made using the finest quality African herbs and spices. It can be served as a starter soup or the main dish.

What is the flavor of the fish pepper? ›

Fish chili peppers are a feast for the eyes with the colorful young cream-colored peppers that were used for adding a kick to the creamy sauces that topped seafood. With heat and flavor similar to the Jalapeño and Cayenne, you'll fall in love with this gem.

What is the story behind fish peppers? ›

Once grown almost solely by enslaved people, the fish pepper was nearly lost forever until a chance find in a freezer revived the plant and it's now more popular than ever. The fish pepper has a striking appearance. Growing to a height of about 61cm (2ft), its leaves are a variegated silver and green.

What are the benefits of fish pepper soup? ›

-Helps the heart function well in pumping of blood. -The antioxidant properties of the species makes pepper soup an anti-flammatory and cancer fighting food. Fighting against free radicals that can destroy the cells and cause cancers. -Its a good appetizer.

Why is my catfish pepper soup bitter? ›

Did You Know: Your pepper soup will have a bitter taste if you use too much of the peppersoup spice blend. To rectify this simply add more water to the broth.

How to preserve fish peppers? ›

The fish pepper lends itself especially well to preserving. Try pickling or making your own pepper vinegar by pouring vinegar over the them in a bottle. The thin membrane makes it a great candidate for drying as well. Thread the peppers on a string to bring some of the beauty of the garden inside to dry.

When to harvest fish pepper? ›

Fish peppers turn white/cream when ready to harvest. If left on the plant, the peppers will turn red. They are still edible at any stage, your sauce will just be a different color. We've been busy, and they've gotten ahead of us.

Are fish peppers edible? ›

It was a popular food ingredient among African Americans in Philadelphia, Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay region. Many crab and oyster houses blended the young cream-colored peppers into their white sauces used to enhance fish and shellfish recipes (hence the name “fish pepper”).

What does a ripe fish pepper look like? ›

While a few on each plant may remain white throughout their lifespan, most of the peppers start off pale in color with light green stripes, then become darker yellow with green stripes, then orange and finally red, when fully mature.

What goes first in soup? ›

The base of your flavor in a soup comes from the vegetables and other ingredients you add at the beginning, called aromatics. The traditional flavor base in French and American soups is called mirepoix, a mix of diced onions, carrots, and celery in 2:1:1 proportion (twice as much onion as carrot or celery).

What does pepper soup do to the body? ›

Digestive health: The spices used in pepper soup, such as ginger and garlic, can support digestion and alleviate digestive discomfort. 3. Immune support: Many of the spices and herbs used in pepper soup, like ginger and black pepper, are known for their potential immune-boosting properties.

What can I eat with pepper soup? ›

Ladle broth on top, garnish with scent leaf, and serve with or alongside boiled yams, plantains, white sweet potatoes, or rice, and a small bowl of palm oil for dipping.

Where does the nickname pepper come from? ›

This gender-neutral title comes from the German and Middle-English Piper and Peper and used to be an occupational name for a spicer. Historically, Pepper has been a chic nickname for those with dark hair or a quick temper.

Where does the term pepper come from? ›

The name pepper is derived from the Sanskrit name of long pepper, pippali. That word gave rise to the Greek peperi and Latin piper.

Why is it called bird pepper? ›

Wild chiles produce very small white flowers, followed by small bright red fruit (chiles). They are upright on the branches, rather than hanging as in most other cultivated chiles. They are called bird peppers because birds love to eat the fruit. Despite their small size, these chiles are really, really hot!

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