What it is
Pepper soup made with fresh catfish cut into thick steaks and simmered briefly in the spiced broth so the flesh stays firm and the skin turns gelatinous. Scent leaf is added at the end.
Key ingredients
- Fresh catfish
- Pepper soup spice blend
- Scotch bonnet pepper
- Onions
- Scent leaf
- Ground crayfish
- Salt
A list of what goes in, not a recipe. Quantities and method vary by household.
How it is eaten
Served in a bowl of hot broth with the fish pieces in it, eaten with the hands and a spoon, with agidi, yam or bread and a cold drink.
Cultural significance
Catfish pepper soup is the signature order in Nigerian fish joints, where the practice of choosing a live fish from a tank gave rise to the name point and kill. It is strongest in the Niger Delta, Lagos and Asaba, where fresh farmed and river catfish are always available, and it is as much an evening outing as a dish.
Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
