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Uziza Seed Pepper Broth

Also known as Uziza Seed Pepper Broth (Anti-Inflammatory)

Uziza Seed Pepper Broth is the most therapeutically intense of all Nigerian pepper soups — a broth in which ground uziza seeds (Piper guineense) are used at triple the normal quantity to create a soup of extraordinary warming, anti-inflammatory power. Uziza — also called African black pepper or false cubeb — is one of the most medicinally potent spices in Nigerian traditional medicine, rich in piperine and essential oils with documented anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-

Uziza Seed Pepper Broth, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 2 big tablespoons of ground uziza seeds — triple the normal quantity
  • Half a medium chicken or a big piece of goat meat — as the protein base
  • 4 to 5 Atarodo (very hot chilli peppers) — whole
  • 1 teaspoon of ground ehuru
  • 1 teaspoon of ground Cameroon pepper
  • Half a teaspoon of ground selim pepper (uda)
  • 3 big handfuls of ground dried crayfish
  • 1 big onion, sliced
  • 2 seasoning cubes (Knorr), crushed
  • Salt to taste
  • 6 glasses of water
  • A generous handful of fresh uziza leaves — both seeds and leaves for maximum therapeutic effect
  • A small handful of fresh scent leaves, torn

Method

  1. 01

    Building the Uziza-Forward Broth. Place the protein in a large pot with 6 glasses of water. Add the extraordinary quantity of ground uziza seeds (2 big tablespoons), whole Atarodo, ground ehuru, Cameroon pepper, selim pepper, ground crayfish, sliced onion, seasoning cubes and salt.

  2. 02

    Long Simmering. Bring to vigorous boil. Skim foam. Reduce to medium heat. Cover and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes for chicken (50 to 55 for goat). The broth will be very intensely flavoured with uziza — this is the therapeutic intention.

  3. 03

    Tasting the Therapeutic Broth. Taste the broth after cooking. It should be intensely warming with the distinctive peppery, slightly resinous quality of uziza at its most powerful — feeling medicinal when you drink it.

  4. 04

    Adding Both Uziza Components. Add fresh shredded uziza leaves to the broth — doubling the therapeutic effect by combining seeds and leaves. Add scent leaves. Cook 3 minutes. Serve very hot.

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