West African Pepper Rub

West African cooks use this all-purpose seasoning as a fiery rub for meat or chicken, and as a condiment for perking up root vegetables. They also cook it with onion, garlic, peppers and tomatoes to make a flavour base for soups, stews and sauces.

To me, the blend is a glorious celebration of all things peppery: it includes familiar black and white peppercorns as well as intriguing exotic pepper such as cubebs and grains of paradise, both indigenous to West Africa. Used sparingly, t