Description
Comforting sweet potato peanut soup blends creamy African-inspired flavors with rich, nutty undertones. Warm spices and hearty ingredients create a soul-satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Vegetables:
- 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups chopped kale or spinach (optional, for extra greens)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Protein Components:
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 (14.5 ounces/414 grams) can diced tomatoes (with juices)
- ½ cup natural peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
- Juice of ½ lime (optional, for brightness)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (or 1 teaspoon ground)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Chopped roasted peanuts and fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatic foundation by heating olive oil in a spacious cooking vessel over moderate temperatures, gently sautéing chopped onions until they become translucent and tender.
- Introduce minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, ground cumin, sweet paprika, and a whisper of cayenne, allowing the spices to bloom and release their intense fragrances for approximately one minute.
- Incorporate diced sweet potatoes, crushed tomatoes, and vegetable broth into the seasoned mixture, elevating the temperature until the liquid reaches a vigorous boil.
- Reduce the heat, allowing the soup to simmer gently, transforming the sweet potatoes into a soft, yielding texture – this typically requires 20-25 minutes of patient cooking.
- Remove the pot from direct heat and transform the soup’s texture using an immersion blender, creating a silky, uniform consistency. Alternatively, transfer carefully to a standard blender in measured batches.
- Whisk creamy peanut butter into the velvety soup, ensuring complete integration and adjusting the liquid volume if the consistency appears too dense.
- Delicately fold verdant kale or spinach into the warm soup, permitting the greens to softly wilt and infuse their vibrant color and nutritional essence.
- Brighten the soup’s complex flavor profile with a splash of fresh lime juice, then fine-tune the seasoning with salt and pepper to achieve a perfectly balanced taste.
Notes
- Choose a heavy-bottomed pot to prevent burning and ensure even heat distribution during sautéing.
- Dice onions uniformly for consistent cooking and better texture in the final soup.
- Adjust spice levels by reducing or increasing cayenne pepper according to personal heat preference.
- Consider roasting sweet potatoes beforehand for deeper, caramelized flavor before adding to the soup.
- Swap peanut butter with almond or sunflower seed butter for nut-free dietary needs.
- Use coconut milk instead of broth for a creamier, richer soup consistency.
- Add protein by stirring in cooked chicken, tofu, or chickpeas during the final stage.
- Store leftovers in airtight containers, as the soup’s flavors intensify overnight in the refrigerator.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, chopped peanuts, or a drizzle of olive oil for extra texture and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg