Soup · Main Course · African ·

Nigerian Tiger Nut Milk Soup with Spicy Catfish

Name: Nigerian Tiger Nut Milk Soup with Spicy Catfish
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 1 cup dried tiger nuts, soaked overnight; 3 cups water; 1 pound catfish fillets; 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; Salt, to taste; Juice of 1 lemon; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 2 medium onions, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons ground crayfish; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; Fresh cilantro, chopped; Sliced green chilies

A creamy and mildly sweet soup made from tiger nut milk, paired with spicy catfish for a delightful blend of flavors.

4.1(795 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·February 7, 2026

Nigerian Tiger Nut Milk Soup with Spicy Catfish — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

35 min

Cook

1 h 45 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Tiger Nut Milk

For the Spicy Catfish

For the Soup Base

For Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 335 kcal
Protein: 27.28 g
Carbs: 30.28 g
Fat: 17.93 g
Fiber: 5.63 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1339 kcal
Protein: 109.1 g
Carbs: 121.1 g
Fat: 71.7 g
Fiber: 22.5 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup dried tiger nuts soaked overnight	480	4.8	84	28	16
3 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1 pound catfish fillets	570	98	0	28	0
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste	20	0.6	4	0.2	0.2
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper	6	0.3	1	0.3	0.5
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Juice of 1 lemon	11	0.2	4	0.2	0.1
1 tablespoon vegetable oil	120	0	0	14	0
2 medium onions finely chopped	92	2	22	0.2	4
2 cloves garlic minced	9	0.4	2	0	0.1
2 teaspoons ground crayfish	15	2	1	0.4	0
1 teaspoon smoked paprika	6	0.3	1	0.3	0.9
1 teaspoon dried thyme	3	0.1	1	0.1	0.4
Fresh cilantro chopped	1	0.1	0.1	0	0.1
Sliced green chilies	6	0.3	1	0.1	0.2

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Catfish

1
Mix the marinade
Mix the ginger-garlic paste, cayenne pepper, salt, and lemon juice in a bowl.
2
Coat the catfish
Coat the catfish fillets evenly with the mixture.
3
Let it marinate
Let marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Preparing the Tiger Nut Milk

1
Blend tiger nuts
Blend the soaked tiger nuts with water until smooth.
Tip: Ensure the tiger nuts are well-soaked and blended to avoid graininess in the milk. Use a high-speed blender for a smoother consistency.
2
Strain the milk
Strain through a fine cloth to extract the milk.
3
Set aside
Set aside the tiger nut milk for later use.

How to Make Nigerian Tiger Nut Milk Soup with Spicy Catfish

Total time: 2 h 20 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Sautéing Aromatics
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat, add onions and garlic, and sauté until translucent.
2
Building the Soup
Add the ground crayfish, smoked paprika, and thyme to the pot and cook for 1-2 minutes.
3
Completing the Soup
Pour in the tiger nut milk, bring to a simmer, and carefully add the marinated catfish fillets. Cook until the fish is just done.