
West Africa · Soup
Liberian Pepper Soup
A searing, aromatic broth loaded with tender bone-in goat, dried fish, and crushed fiery country peppers.
The story
Consumed throughout Liberia as an evening tavern staple and restorative broth, this fiery soup is renowned for its invigorating qualities. In bustling Monrovian cookshops, large iron caldrons simmer steadily across charcoal braziers into the late hours. A key technical secret is lightly bruising the dried country spice pods to release aromatic resins without letting their bitter seeds overpower the broth.
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