Passport & Plate - Spicy African Peanut Soup
Senegal | Friday, March 6, 2015 | 5 photos
Spicy African Peanut Soup
1 large onion - chopped
2 cups zucchini - chopped
3 cups spicy chunky salsa
8 cups veggie or chicken stock
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cloves garlic - minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried thyme
3 16oz cans garbanzo beans - drained and rinsed
2 medium sweet potatoes - peeled/chopped
1.) In a large pot, saute onions, potatoes, and garlic in oil for about 5 minutes or until the onion is tender.
2.) Add the broth, thyme and cumin; bring this to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer until the sweet potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes).
3.) Add the salsa, beans, and zucchini, cook until they are tender (about 15 minutes).
4.) Stir in the peanut butter until it is completely combined and thoroughly heated, be sure to stir.
5.) Enjoy! Can be served over couscous, quinoa, or rice.
The story behind this recipe
The winter here in New York has been long, cold , and daunting to think about the warmth I left behind in Southeast Asia. I needed something hearty, but with a zing, something to remind me of the delicious soups and curries I was eating on the regular while living in Thailand for a year. Chicken noodle soup wasn't going to make the cut, and I wanted to feel some fire on my lips. When I found this recipe, it interested me that it was a very simple recipe with easily attainable ingredients. However, I knew I needed some Thai inspired flavors, chili, ginger, coconut, etc. to really make me feel content in experimenting with this hopefully new, comfort dish. I could start to smell the aromas of the cumin, and the vegetables - and I was starting to feel optimistic about trading this for old faithful (chicken noodle). After I added the Thai Inspired Peanut Butter, (or regular peanut butter) I could not wait to sit down with a bowl of this in front of me. A few spoonfuls in and my lips felt a little tingly, my body was filled with warmth, and I was loving it! I was experiencing various flavors no canned soup would have granted me and took me back to fond memories. Before living in Thailand, I would have scoffed at this soup, never giving it a chance, and would have missed out. That is why this dish is so special to me, it reminds me that stepping out of my comfort zone introduced me to countless foods I would have never indulged in if I hadn't left the US. It takes me back to backpacking through Vietnam and that hanging meat no longer irks me, but rather, excites me, because I know its not pumped with pesticides or hormones. It prompts me to make large batches in order to share with friends and family, to give them an unexpected surprise that will later be known as a favorite. Its reminiscent of the heat and the sun, coupled with the excitement and comfort I so badly miss, but it warms my heart while I sit staring out at the snow, and suddenly the cold disappears.
