How to Prepare Pepper Gizzards

Peppered Gizzards are part of the popular Nigerian Small Chops family so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy this at most Nigerian parties. But you don't have to wait for the next occasion before enjoying this snack.



It is so simple to make and gizzards are unbelieveably cheap that when I think about all the chickens a small quantity of gizzards came from, I feel they should cost more.


Ingredients for the Peppered Gizzards


- 500g chicken gizzards

-3 habanero peppers (or to your best taste)

-2 medium onions

-1 big stock cube

-1 teaspoon thyme

-Salt (to your best taste)

-2 tablespoons vegetable oil



Tool Needed

1 Toothpicks for serving.



Notes on the ingredients

1. 500g of chicken gizzard can gave you about 20 gizzards. Most gizzards sell in the market or local store where I live are quite small compared to the gizzards in Nigerian chickens Oops...

2. Be more extra careful with the quantity of seasoning you add to gizzards. They can easily get overseasoned and taste salty because the meat does not absorb much of the ingredients.


Before you proceed...

1. Ensure that the inside skins of the gizzards are peeled off, then wash and place them in a sizeable pot.

2. Cut the onions into big chunks.

3. Pound or blitz the peppers without adding any water to it.

4. Marinate the gizzards with the seasonings if you want. I do not marinate gizzards because it does not make any difference. Gizzards have a rubbery texture so the marinade does not really penetrate the meat. For me, it is just like trying to marinate shaki or kidney.


Peppering The Gizzards

1. Add the stock cube, the thyme and big chunks of onions into the gizzards. If you marinated them, just add the onions.

2. Pour water small amount of water to just under the level of the gizzards and start cooking at low medium heat. This quantity of water will dry up by the time the gizzards are well done.

3. When the gizzards are getting done or well done, remove the big chunks of onions.

4. Increase the heat to high and stir constantly till all the remaining liquid in the pot is absorbed. You don't want to lose any flavour by pouring away the gizzard stock.

5. Now you can add salt to taste and stir very well.

6. Lay the gizzards flat in a baking bowl.

7. Grill in an oven at 150°C or 310°F till the top side is dry and turn brown. Turn them and grill the underside too till dry and turn brown also. If you don't have an oven, just deep-fry them.

8. Place a pot on your cooker or stove to heat the vegetable oil.

9. Add the pepper and the grilled/deep-fried gizzards.

10. Stir very well till the pepper is evenly distributed on the gizzards. The vegetable oil ensures that this happens and gives the grilled gizzards a nice glow.

Now you are done making your Peppered Gizzards! Insert toothpicks and serve.
If you are entertaining guests or having dinner with the family, serve it as a side dish to Fried Plantains, any Rice Recipes or serve as Snacks and enjoy with cold soft drinks.

If you are hosting a party, place them in a flat tray and put out with other small chops and snacks for your guests to enjoy. They will surely be oohing and aahing either from the yummy taste or from all that pepper 😁 .