Nigerian cuisine is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, with spices playing a crucial role in creating its distinctive character. Among these, dried pepper stands out as a fundamental ingredient, adding a perky presence to a wide array of dishes. Let's delve into the world of Nigerian dried pepper and discover its diverse uses.
What is Nigerian Dried Pepper?
When Nigerian recipes call for dry pepper, they are not referring to chili powder, which is often a blend of chile peppers plus cumin, oregano, and garlic, among other spices or black or white peppercorns. Dry pepper is a finely ground blend of dried red chiles (often cayenne, but also bird’s eye or other slim, red varieties).
Peppers are one of the most commonly preserved ingredients across Nigeria. Sun-dried, all sorts of peppers are available in super markets - whole, dried and also ground to what Nigerians call ‘dry pepper’.
The most common form of fresh peppers also exist dried. The yellow variety are the most commonly dried scotch bonnets/ habaneros sold in the markets.
Sometimes though there’s a mix of peppers, marketed as dried yellow ones but it is evident that there is a mix of colours. Dried mixed scotch bonnets & habaneros - sold as Cameroun pepper.
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Versatile Uses in Nigerian Cooking
While it isn’t the star of the show, its perky presence is required in almost everything Nigerian that I cook, from stewed beans to grills.
Two of the ways I use it in my cooking include, rehydrating it in cold water for some hours and blending it with some tomatoes (tastes better without tomatoes) and peppers for stew.
Another way is blending it into powder, now it becomes Paprika Powder and I can use it as seasoning or as spice rub or any recipe that calls for paprika. I don’t remove the seeds before sending it to the local mill for grinding.
Here are some specific examples of how dried pepper is used in Nigerian cuisine:
- Sprinkled over fried eggs: A touch of dry pepper adds a beautiful speckling and a hint of heat to gently fried eggs.
- Added to instant noodles: Dry pepper provides a welcome kick to instant noodles.
- Used in spice rubs: Combined with Nigerian curry powder, dried thyme, and salt, dry pepper creates a flavorful spice rub perfect for fish, especially tilapia.
- In pepper sauce: Nigerian Pepper Sauce is an incredibly versatile pepper sauce made with Sweet Bell Peppers. This recipe calls for Dried Red Chillies only because I love its taste and flavour in stews but if you can’t source it, please use Scotch Bonnets (Ata Rodo) instead.
A Key Ingredient in Pepper Soup
Of all the Nigerian recipes that I remember most fondly for their combination of spice and comfort (and most certainly not the same without Maggi cubes), Nigerian pepper soup most definitely tops the list.
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Pepper soup is the only traditional "drinking" soup in Nigeria, and though it is called pepper soup, its name hearkens more to its spiciness, for which "pepper" is the closest word in traditional Nigerian languages.
To make the pepper soup, put the chopped meat in a large pot and cover with about 2 cups of water. Add 1 tablespoon of the spice mix, some salt, the Maggi bouillon cubes, some red chile powder, the crayfish (if using), and the lemongrass bundles.
When the liquid comes to a boil, add the remaining 8½ cups of water and the rest of the pepper soup spice mix. Allow to cook over medium-low heat. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste and simmer till the meat is soft but not falling off the bone.
Exploring Nigerian Spices
It can be so confusing, to decide what spices are best for your Nigerian foods. You might even think we don't have many spices in Nigeria at all.
There are 30 out of the non-exhaustive list of spices available in Nigeria:
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PEPPER SOUP RECIPE | GOAT MEAT AND YAM PEPPER SOUP
Table of Nigerian Spices
| Spice | Description | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Locust Beans | A pungent-smelling fermented salty condiment. | Traditional soups and stews |
| Curry powder | It is a blend of different dried herbs & spices and believed to originate from Asia. | Used to season meat chicken and fish in combination with other spices. |
| Cameroon pepper | A fiery, aromatic form of chilli powder. | Added to soups and stews for a fiery hot spicy taste. |
| Cloves | Dried flower buds with a distinctive sweet smell and a strong pungent taste. | Can be used to bake and also used in soups (pepper soup) and other savoury meat dishes. |
| Chilli powder | A spice know for its characteristic hot taste. Chilli powder is a universal spice and is a particular Nigerian favourite. | Added to soups, stews and dishes to add heat. |
