African Chicken Pepper Soup

Content… What Is It? Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Amazing West African Recipes to Try Watch How to Make It

What Is African Pepper Soup?

African hot pepper soup is a simple yet intensely flavored soup that’s a kitchen staple throughout West Africa, especially in Nigeria, Cameroon, and neighboring African countries. The soup always contains hot peppers, but past that, the variations are endless.

In fact, there are almost as many variations as cooks, with everyone insisting that Grandmother’s take on this peppery soup is the only authentic way. Obviously, my version is the only authentic way to cook African pepper soup. (I’m kidding, I’m kidding. 😜) 

Ingredient List

1. Chicken – A roughly 3-pound chicken cut into pieces works perfectly for this recipe. But you could use 3 pounds of thighs, legs, or leg quarters.
2. Pepper Soup Spices – Onion, garlic, ginger, paprika, chicken bouillon, green onions, parsley, basil, and bay leaf provide the flavor base. But you can add lemongrass, allspice, cumin, curry, and fennel seeds for an exciting taste.
3. Pepper – Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers are ideal for adding heat to this soup. Sweet peppers like Cubanelles will give you the flavor without the heat.
4. Njangsa – This exotic spice usually goes in Cameroonian versions of this soup. It has a delectable, nutty flavor. It can be hard to find, so omit it if need be.

How to Make African Pepper Soup

• Puree the spices in a blender or food processor.
• Cook – Add the chicken and pureed spices to a pot with 7-8 cups of water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer until the chicken is tender.
• Serve – Discard the bay leaf, taste and adjust seasonings, and add some water if necessary to adjust the thickness. Serve hot.

Recipe Variations

1. Make it vegetarian. Swap out chicken bouillon for a vegetable bouillon and cook this soup with chickpeas or lentils instead of chicken.
2. Add vegetables. Add just almost any vegetable to this soup for more flavor and nutrition. That’s your cue to get creative. 😉
3. Use a different protein. Goat meat pepper soup is a popular option, but any meat works well here, from beef to fish and anything in between.
4. Nigerian pepper soup enjoys an herb called scent leaf (also called clove basil). Add a few leaves if you can find them for even more flavor.

Tips and Tricks

1. I like using a fresh hen (stewing chicken) to cook pepper soup as it yields more flavor.
2. Use the whole chicken. I mean the whole chicken. I even include the feet and head. Even if you don’t want to eat them, they’ll add flavor and nutrients to your soup.
3. Njansa can be hard to find. Look for it in African markets or online. And if you can’t get your hands on it, don’t sweat it because the soup will still taste great. 😋

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make this soup up to three days in advance, let it cool, then store it in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat on the stovetop over medium until it’s nice and hot.

The same goes for leftovers. And yes, it freezes well for 3-4 months.

What Goes With African Pepper Soup

Serve African pepper soup with regular fufu or ugali (corn fufu). You could also serve a side of njama njama to keep the meal African-themed. Another option is to serve it up American-style with a side salad and a crusty loaf of garlic bread.

More West African Recipes to Try

1. Maafe
2. Pineapple Ginger Juice
3. Chicken Stew
4. African Pepper Sauce
5. Koki Corn

Watch How to Make It

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