Assorted Meat Pepper Soup: A Step-by-Step Recipe for UK Ingredients

What do you see when you hear the words "assorted meat"? Do you see a random collection of leftovers? A mix of this and that?

We want you to see something different. We want you to see a symphony. A carefully curated collection of flavours and textures, each chosen for a specific purpose. The rich, beefy flavour of shaki, the soft gelatinous delight of cow foot, the deep heartiness of offal, the unique chew of tripe. This isn't just meat; it is the very soul of a truly authentic Pepper Soup.

That feeling when a cold is creeping in, or when a rainy day has you feeling down. The thought of a steaming, aromatic bowl of Pepper Soup is enough to lift your spirits. It is more than just food; it is a warm hug from the inside out, a remedy our mothers and grandmothers have sworn by for generations. It is the ultimate taste of comfort, of home, of pure, uncompromised wellness.

At Niyis, we believe that this incredible comfort should not be hard to find or create. That is why we have made it our mission to source all the authentic ingredients you need, right here in the UK, and to guide you through making a pot that is rich, flavourful, and just like you remember.

Ready to create that magic in your own kitchen?

What You'll Need (Your Shopping List)

The secret to a perfect Pepper Soup is using high-quality, authentic ingredients. Here is your guide to what you will need, all of which you can find on our website.

• The Assorted Meat (About 1kg): This is your star. Look for a mix that includes beef, shaki, cow foot, and maybe some tripe or liver. This combination is what creates the complex, rich flavour base.
• Aromatics: 2-3 large red onions, 4-5 scotch bonnet peppers (adjust to your heat preference!), and a couple of cloves of garlic.
• The Secret Spice Blend: This is where the magic happens. While you can blend your own, a high-quality Pepper Soup Spice Mix is a game-changer. It contains the perfect balance of dry or grounded ginger, black pepper, grains of selim (uda), and other native spices, taking the guesswork out of it.
• Seasoning: A couple of your favourite stock cubes and salt to taste.
• The Finishing Touch: A generous handful of fresh Scent Leaves (nchanwu). If you cannot find them, a good substitute is a mix of fresh basil and a hint of utazi leaves.

Ready to gather your ingredients? You can find our perfectly curated Pepper Soup bundles and all the essentials here.

Step-by-Step Guide to Pepper Soup Perfection

Step 1: Prep Your Meat and Aromatics First, wash your assorted meat thoroughly and place it in a large pot. Add enough water to cover it, add one chopped onion, and a stock cube. Boil until it is tender, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. This can take about 40-60 minutes, depending on the cuts of meat. While that is boiling, roughly chop your remaining onions and blend them with your scotch bonnets, garlic, and your Pepper Soup Spice Mix. Add a splash of water and blend into a smooth, slightly gritty paste. This paste is the heart of your soup.

Step 2: Combine and Simmer Once your meat is tender, pour your flavour base into the pot with the meat. Add about 1 litre of hot water or the reserved stock from boiling the meat. Crumble in your remaining stock cubes and stir everything together. Bring it to a gentle boil.

Step 3: Let it Meld Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cover the pot and let it cook for at least 30-45 minutes. This crucial step allows all the incredible spices to infuse the broth, creating that deep, complex flavour we are after. Do not rush it. Let the aroma fill your kitchen. This is where the magic happens.

Step 4: Finish and Serve Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning if needed. Finally, stir in your roughly chopped Scent Leaves or basil/utazi Let them wilt in the hot soup for just a minute before turning off the heat. This adds a burst of fresh fragrance that balances the spice perfectly. Serve your steaming Pepper Soup immediately in bowls, ready to warm the soul.

Read Also: 5 simple ways to cook catfish

A Pro Tip for Extra Richness

For an even deeper, more authentic umami flavour that will have everyone asking for your secret, try this. When you are blending your aromatics, add a small handful of dried crayfish or a small piece of dry fish (stockfish) to the blender. This will dissolve into the soup and add an incredible depth of flavour that is the signature of a truly well-made Pepper Soup.

Serving Your Perfect Pepper Soup

A beautiful pot of Pepper Soup is a meal on its own, but it is also the perfect partner to a wide variety of "swallow" foods. It is fantastic with soft, fluffy Pounded Yam, with smooth Eba, or with a hearty Fufu. The choice is yours, but you cannot go wrong.

Ready to bring that taste of home to your table?

Shop For Your Pepper Soup Ingredients

From our family to yours, here is to a warm, comforting, and flavourful life.

With warmth and flavour,

The Niyis Team