THE PERFECT GHANAIAN TILAPIA SOUP

Fresh fish soup is one of the popular dishes in Ghana and it’s enjoyed with a steamed fermented Corn dumpling, called Banku or Amorkple.

This is an equally easy to follow recipe, which produces a flavour packed soup. This soup works perfectly in this cold weather and a must try for your Autumn or Winter dishes.

This recipe used Tilapia fish, however you can use any Fish of your choosing that’s firm. Try using Sea bass, Sea Bream, Red snapper etc. I love to hear your feedback when you do try the recipe. There’s a tutorial video on how to make this soup on my YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe and share.

Ingredients 

1 large cleaned & gutted Tilapia cut into chunks 

25g of Tomato paste 

150g of blended fresh Tomatoes 

2 tablespoonfuls of Vegetable oil 

600ml of Fish stock

10 Pettie Belle chillies or Kpakposhito

1 large sliced Onion

6 Basil leaves (Optional)

Salt to taste

Ginger Blend

30g of peeled Ginger

1 large Onion

1 Habanero chilli

1 shrimp stock cube (optional)

1 teaspoonful of Aniseed or Fennel

Method

Blend the Ginger, Onion, Habanero chilli, stock cube and Aniseed to a smooth paste.

Marinade the Tilapia in half of the Ginger blend and set aside.

Place a saucepan on a medium heat and add the oil.

Add the remaining Ginger blend and fry for about 2 minutes on a low heat.

Add the Tomato paste and fry gently for 3 minutes, ensuring you stir consistently 

Tip

Best to blend  fresh Tomatoes, Garlic and Onion into a smooth paste. 

Cook it down till you have a double cream consistency.

Reserve the cooked Tomato in an airtight container and refrigerate or freeze it till a recipe requires it.

Add 150g of your pre cooked Tomato mixture to your spiced Tomato paste mixture.

Cook the mixture for about 2-3 minutes 

Add the marinated Tilapia to the Tomato mixture and mix well.

Cook the mixture for about a minute.

Add your Fish stock or water and mix well.

Cook for about 7-8 minutes 

Add your Pettie Belle Chillies or Kpakposhito and sliced Onions.

Add salt to taste (not more than 1 levelled teaspoon of salt)

Cook for about 3 minutes.

TIP

You can thicken your soup by adding blended cooked Onions.

Alternatively you can add a teaspoon of Gari as a thickener or flour

If you’re using flour, make a roux first (add the flour to the oil, then the Ginger blend and fry for 2 minutes)

This will take the raw flavour of the flour out of your dish)

Just when your soup is almost ready add your Basil leaves ( I used Greek Basil)  which is more scented.

Your soup is ready! Enjoy this with with Amorkple or some crusty bread.

Watch the video on how to make this dish below;

Don’t forget to like the video, try the recipe, leave a comment with your feedback and share with your family and friends.

Video for the Amorkple recipe