• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Low Carb Africa logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Free Keto Meal Plan
  • Helpful Resources
  • Shop Digital Products
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » African Recipes » African Soups

    Feb 23, 2024

    Nigerian Pepper Soup with Offal Meat

    Published on Feb 23, 2024. Updated on Jun 3, 2024. By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. 30 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Nigerian Pepper Soup with Offal Meat-pinterest

    Nigerian pepper soup with offal meat is a spicy, nourishing West African soup packed with nutrition and bold flavors!

    african pepper soup with kidney and tripe

    This is one of the most common pepper soups eaten in Nigeria and sometimes called assorted meat pepper soup. No party is usually complete without it.

    Most of the time, you wouldn't even be able to identify all the different meats in the soup. All you know is that it tastes incredible, and you don't stop eating until you drink the last drop.

    It is also a popular remedy when you're feeling under the weather or have a bad cold. One bowl of this pepper soup often works wonders to make you feel instantly better!

    What is Offal Meat?

    Offal meat, also known as organ meat, variety meat, or assorted meat (or, in Nigeria, as orishirishi meat), refers to the organ and other parts of an animal that are deemed undesirable and discarded.

    The word Offal literally is a combination of two words, off and fall, which generally refers to the part of the animal that has fallen off the butcher's chopping block.

    Some examples of offal meat are the intestine, tripe (beef stomach lining), kidney, beef liver, heart, brain, sweetbreads(meat from the thymus gland and pancreas), tongue, and chicken gizzard, and chicken hearts, among others.

    Offal meat might not be very desirable in the U.S., but in many parts of the world, this is part of a healthy and nutritious diet. In fact, offal meat contains more nutrition than the more popular muscle meat.

    In most parts of Africa, a common practice is nose-to-tail eating, which means we let nothing waste and eat every part of the animal, organs, and all. Another plus for offal meat is that it is usually very cheap, so your pocket will thank you, too!

    closeup image of nigerian pepper soup with assorted meat

    Are offal meats healthy?

    Offal meats boast several significant benefits and have been referred to as "superfoods."

    They are a nutritional powerhouse and contain many essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A and B, riboflavin, selenium, and copper.

    Some other benefits of offal meat include:

    • They are very rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
    • Because they are rich in B vitamins, they help maintain heart health and reduce blood pressure.
    • Offal meats contain folate, which is beneficial for pregnant mothers.
    • They keep you feeling full longer.
    • They are usually a source of high-quality protein and help retain muscle mass.

    Nigerian pepper soup ingredients 

    offal meat kidney and tripe used in making nigerian pepper soup

    I use a few different types of offal meat, but you can mix and match according to your preference. 

    • Tripe: I use blanket tripe, honeycomb tripe, and mountain chain tripe. Tripe is the stomach lining of beef, pork, or lamb. Tripe is a bit tough and chewy, but when cooked for an extended period, it softens into a silky texture and readily absorbs flavors.
    • Kidney: Kidneys are very nutrient-rich and are high in proteins.
    • Pepper soup spice: The star of this recipe is the pepper soup spice. It is usually made from calabash nutmeg, alligator pepper, and Selim pepper, but you can make it yourself from spices found in traditional stores. You can also buy it online from Amazon or African stores near you. This pepper soup spice brings an earthy, unique taste to this recipe that is soothing and refreshing.
    • Other spices: To cook the offal meat, you will need black pepper and bouillon powder. You can optionally add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to increase the heat.
    • Vegetables: Onions and habanero peppers. You can omit the habanero peppers, but I like that they give this dish an extra spicy kick!
    african pepper soup with offal meat

    How to clean beef tripe

    Most butchers in the U.S. will clean the tripe for you and Asian or Mexican grocery stores sell it already cleaned and packaged.

    If your tripe is not cleaned, it can look pretty intimidating, but it is not that complicated. It does involve a bit of elbow grease, though, so roll up those sleeves!

    1. First, place the tripe in a pot of water and let it boil for about 15 minutes. When done, drain the water and let the tripe cool down. Then, place it on a cutting board.
    2. Using a sharp knife, scrape the surface of the tripe in one direction to move the dirt and impurities away and onto the board.
    3. When you think you're done, rinse it and look again. There might be some bits you left behind. Keep scraping till it looks clean.
    4. When you're done, rinse it thoroughly, and you're good to go! This method works for all types of tripe, although the beef mountain tripe is the toughest and will take some time to get as clean as you want it to be.

    How to make Nigerian pepper soup

    1. Once your offal meat has been washed and cleaned, the hard part is over. Chop them into pieces and set aside. Also, chop the onions and habanero pepper.
    2. Add the offal meat to a large pot, add enough water to cover it, and then a little more. I added about 6 cups because the meat will be boiled for an extended period, so some of the water will be evaporated.
    3. Add the chopped onions, bouillon, black pepper, and salt. Boil for about 40 minutes or until the meat is tender. You don't want it to be too soft yet because you are not done cooking it.
    4. Add the pepper soup spice one tablespoon at a time. You might be okay with just one, but I like to add two tablespoons. Also, add the chopped habanero pepper.

    5. Let it boil for about 10-15 minutes to give the spices time to really sink into the meat. Your delicious pepper soup is ready!
    how to make nigerian pepper soup

    This recipe serves 6 and contains 0 net carbs per serving. It keeps well in the fridge for about 5 days and also freezes well.

    Helpful Tips

    • Offal meat spoils quickly, so it is best to use them on the day of purchase or freeze immediately.
    • When boiling the meat, check it after 30 minutes to see if it's just a bit tender. Remember, you don't want it to be too soft because it will be cooked some more after adding the pepper soup spices.
    • You can add some cayenne pepper if the soup is not spicy enough for you.

    • You can also leave the habanero whole to reduce the heat, instead of chopping it up.
    nigerian pepper soup recipe with kidney and tripe

    Check out these other African soups and stews!

    Fish Pepper Soup

    Cow Foot Soup

    Goat Meat Pepper Soup

    Chicken Pepper Soup

    African Fish Stew

    📖 Recipe

    nigerian pepper soup with assorted meat

    Nigerian Pepper Soup

    Nigerian pepper soup with offal meat is a spicy, nourishing, West African soup packed with nutrition and bold flavors!
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Pin SaveSaved!
    Course: Soups & Stews
    Cuisine: African
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 120kcal
    Author: Tayo Oredola
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz blanket tripe
    • 8 oz honeycomb tripe
    • 12 oz mountain chain tripe
    • 8 oz kidney
    • ½ onion
    • 1 habanero pepper
    • 2 tablespoon pepper soup spice
    • 1 tablespoon bouillon powder
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 6 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
    • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste

    Instructions

    • Wash offal meat and clean thoroughly.
      8 oz blanket tripe, 8 oz honeycomb tripe, 12 oz mountain chain tripe, 8 oz kidney
    • Chop the onions and set aside.
      ½ onion
    • Add the meat to a pot, pour in the water, and add the onions, bouillon, black pepper, and salt.
      1 tablespoon bouillon powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 6 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt
    • Boil for 40 mins or till tender.
    • Add the pepper soup spice, 1 tablespoon at a time, till you reach your desired taste.
      2 tablespoon pepper soup spice
    • Also, add the chopped habanero pepper.
      1 habanero pepper
    • Add the cayenne pepper if you want it hotter.
      1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • Boil for another 10 – 15 minutes.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    This recipe serves 6 and contains 0 net carbs per serving.
    • Offal meat spoils quickly, so it is best to use them on the day of purchase or freeze immediately.
    • When boiling the meat, check it after 30 minutes to see if it's just a bit tender. Remember, you don't want it to be too soft because it will be cooked some more after adding the pepper soup spices.
    • You can add some cayenne pepper if the soup is not spicy enough for you.
    • You can also leave the habanero whole to reduce the heat, instead of chopping it up.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 685mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 669IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 2mg
    Follow Me On Youtube Watch me make my recipes from scratch!
    Get My Keto Ebooks for 15% Off! Get both my ebooks with over 50 recipes for just $22.08!

    More African Keto Soup Recipes

    • efo riro
      Efo Riro - Nigerian Spinach Stew
    • beniseed soup
      Beniseed Soup (African Sesame Seed Stew)
    • African Soups
      15 Most Popular African Soups
    • Banga Soup (Palm Nut Soup)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Victoria says

      September 04, 2024 at 9:55 pm

      Do you cover the pot when boiling the offal with onion and bouillon?

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        September 05, 2024 at 11:55 am

        Yes, this will help it boil faster.

        Reply
    2. Zarah says

      June 28, 2022 at 4:42 am

      Wow ur offal recipe is so nice,I love it

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        July 12, 2022 at 12:33 pm

        I'm glad to hear that, Zarah!

        Reply
    3. Khabirah Abdul-Azeez says

      January 10, 2022 at 9:53 pm

      This came out delicious. Thank you for posting this recipe. I made it using beef only.

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        January 12, 2022 at 7:44 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed it, Khabirah!

        Reply
    4. Gary says

      November 28, 2020 at 8:59 am

      Gonna make this tomorrow but I’ll cook it up slowly then pack it up in lunch boxes for work next week. I’ll be adding celery, daikon and green beans as I like to add some extra veg to my stews and bulk them out.

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        November 29, 2020 at 5:07 pm

        That sounds like a very filling lunch!

        Reply
    5. Maryellen Brostoff says

      September 21, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      Awsome website! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also.

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        September 22, 2020 at 12:49 am

        Thank you so much, Maryellen!

        Reply
        • Racheal says

          May 24, 2021 at 3:09 pm

          5 stars
          Please ma’am the serving size is it one cup?

          Reply
          • Tayo says

            May 24, 2021 at 3:55 pm

            Hi Racheal, I usually divide it into 6 equal portions to make a serving. The exact quantity varies based on how much water is left in the soup.

    « Older Comments
    5 from 20 votes (10 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tayo!

    tayo oredola

    Welcome to Low Carb Africa, the home of Keto & Low Carb African-inspired recipes. I specialize in creating mouthwatering recipes with rich, bold, and spicy flavors. Get ready to lose weight, look amazing and be in your best health ever!

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Soup Favorites

    • Keto Cabbage Soup
    • Keto Mushroom Soup
    • Goat Meat Pepper Soup
      Goat Meat Pepper Soup
    • Keto chicken noodle soup
      Keto Chicken Noodle Soup

    Reader Favorites

    • jamaican oxtail soup
      Oxtail Soup Recipe
    • low carb keto palmini pasta
      Palmini Pasta Shrimp Stir Fry
    • Sausage and Spinach Frittata
      Sausage and Spinach Frittata
    • spicy cabbage soup ready to eat
      Spicy Cabbage Soup

    Popular African Recipes

    • efo riro
      Efo Riro - Nigerian Spinach Stew
    • Nigerian okro soup
      Okro Soup - Nigerian Okra Soup
    • asun meat peppered goat meat ready to eat
      Asun Recipe (Peppered Goat Meat)
    • close up shot of African chicken stew
      Nigerian Chicken Stew
    • Nigerian egusi soup in a white bowl
      Egusi Soup
    • Nigerian ogbono soup ready to eat
      Ogbono Soup (Draw Soup)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Browse

    • Recipe Index
    • Shop Digital Products
    • Amazon Store

    Resources

    • Free 7-day keto meal plan
    • African Spices & Seasonings
    • How To Be Successful on Keto
    • What is Fufu?

    Information

    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    COPYRIGHT © 2025. Low Carb Africa, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    Low Carb Africa is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.