Catfish Pepper Soup

Authentic Delta catfish pepper soup is a healthy and spicy soup that is medicinal and also very delicious. It is a low caloric diet that is guilt free and good for the digestive system. The pepper soup spices and herbs are known for their medicinal properties and the soup also help with hydration. Don't get me wrong, the soup is medicinal but also very yummy. It does not taste like any medicine you know. The only taste is the taste of deliciousness.

Directions

Wash fresh catfish with hot water to remove the slime from the fish.
Prepare the spices. Remove the seeds from the grains of selim, The seeds are very bitter, so get rid of them. Remove the shells from the calabash nutmeg. The shells are not edible. Remove the shells of the gbafilo and the umilo, they are not edible too. Break off or cut off the fleshly part of the aidan fruit. To enhance the flavor, toast the calabash nutmeg (it is optional). Grind all the spices together.
Grind the crayfish.
In a pan, pour about 9 cups of water, add the ground pepper soup spices, ground crayfish, cayenne pepper, seasoning cubes, salt; cover and bring it to a boil.
Add catfish and cook until done. Add more water as needed.
Add shrimp and cook for less than 5 minutes.
Slices basil thinly and add to the served soup. This will infuse the rich flavor of the herb and also act as garnish. What a healthy bowl of deliciousness! Basil is not a traditional ingredient in Delta pepper soup but it brings an additional flavor that takes it to another level.

Ingredients

3 medium size Catfish

2 cups peeled shrimps

1/2 cup dried crayfish

2-3 tsp cayenne pepper

2 seasoning cubes

Salt to taste

4 Grains of Selim

7 Calabash nutmeg

1/2 gbafilo seed

1 umilo seed Aidan fruit (use preferred amount)

Basil leaves (flavor & garnish)

9 cups water