Spicy West African Sweet Potato Soup Recipes

AFRICAN SWEET POTATO AND PEANUT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onion 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Mix in the garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir in the tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrot, and continue to cook and stir about 5 minutes.
• Pour water into the saucepan, and season the mixture with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.
• Remove the soup mixture from heat. In a food processor or blender, blend the soup and peanuts until almost smooth. Season with cayenne pepper. Return to the saucepan. Whisk in the peanut butter, and cook until heated through. Serve warm topped with fresh cilantro.

WEST AFRICAN PEANUT SOUP WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Chop peanuts, or crush them with the side of a knife, or pulse them in a food processor to chop roughly.
• Put oil in a deep skillet or medium saucepan over medium heat; a minute later, add onion, ginger and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add chicken and continue cooking for another 3 or 4 minutes, until just coloring. Add 1/2 cup peanuts and the cayenne and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the stock and the sweet potatoes, bring to a boil, and turn heat down to medium-low so the soup bubbles gently. Stir in tomatoes and collards, then cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in 1/4 cup peanut butter. Taste, adjust seasoning (you may want to add more peanut butter at this point) and serve, garnished with remaining peanuts.

WEST AFRICAN PEANUT SOUP

Steps:

• Saute the onions in oil until just translucent.
• Stir in the cayenne and ginger.
• Add the carrots and saute a couple more minutes.
• Mix in the potatoes and stock.
• Bring the soup to a boil and then simmer for about 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
• In a blender or food processor, puree the vegetables with the cooking liquid and the tomato juice.
• Return the puree to the soup pot. Stir in the peanut butter until smooth.
• Taste the soup. Its sweetness will depend on the sweetness of the carrots and sweet potatoes. If it is not naturally sweet, add just a little sugar to enhance the other flavors.
• Reheat the soup gently, using a heat diffuser if needed to prevent scorching.
• Add more water, stock, or tomato juice for a thinner soup.
• Serve topped with plenty of chopped scallions or chives.

SPICY WEST AFRICAN SWEET POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add cumin, turmeric, paprika, and pepper flakes, then sweet potatoes, diced tomatoes, and jalapeno. Add enough broth to cover potatoes.
• Cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 30 minutes depending on how small you cut the potatoes. Add coconut milk and peanut butter; stir. Add spinach to the top; cover and steam until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Squeeze some lime juice over the pot or the individual bowls.

SPICY AFRICAN PEANUT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over high heat.
• Add pepper, ginger, carrots, garlic, onions and cayenne or chilies.
• Cook for 2 minutes, then add potato and stock.
• Bring to the boil and simmer 10 minutes.
• Transfer the vegetables to a food processor and purée until smooth.
• Return the purée to the saucepan and stir in peanut butter and tomato juice or mash the vegetables in the saucepan until slightly lumpy.
• Add sugar, salt and pepper.
• Serve sprinkled with green onions.