Serves 6–8 people
Fisherman Soup
A rich, flavorful, and traditional seafood delicacy from the heart of Rivers State, Nigeria.
Ingredients
Fresh and authentic components for the perfect soup.
Fresh Fish
1kg (Catfish, Croaker, or Tilapia)
Fresh Prawns
300g
Crab
2 medium crabs
Periwinkle
200g
Stockfish
150g
Palm Oil
250ml
Crayfish
100g
Pepper
150g
Onion
1 medium size
Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon
Seasoning Cubes
3–4 cubes
Salt
2 teaspoons
Water
6 cups
Locust Beans (Iru)
1 heaped spoon
Uziza Leaves
200g
Thickener (Optional)
Ofor or Achi – 150g
How to Prepare
Follow these steps for an authentic Rivers State taste.
Clean the fish carefully and cut into sizeable pieces. Wash the fish, prawns, and stockfish thoroughly. Season with stock cubes, periwinkle, and set aside.
Add stockfish, prawns, and crab into a pot with seasoning, pepper, and water. Cook for 5 minutes. Add crayfish, onion, and more water as needed.
Heat the palm oil in a separate pot and fry the blended onion and pepper until fragrant. Pour in the fish stock, add salt, and the locust beans (Iru) to create the rich, flavorful base.
Combine the seafood with the palm oil base. Allow the soup to simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir very carefully at intervals to ensure the fish pieces remain whole and succulent.
Finally, add the fresh, chopped uziza leaves and cook for 2 more minutes. This adds that signature aromatic finish. Your authentic Fisherman Soup is ready to serve!