West African Peanut Soup

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil or 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh gingerroot
• 1 cup chopped carrot
• 2 cups chopped sweet potatoes (up to 1 cup potatoes can be substituted)
• 4 cups vegetable stock or 4 cups water
• 2 cups tomato juice
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
• 1 cup chopped scallions or 1 cup chives

Recipe

• 1 saute the onions in oil until just translucent.
• 2 stir in the cayenne and ginger.
• 3 add the carrots and saute a couple more minutes.
• 4 mix in the potatoes and stock.
• 5 bring the soup to a boil and then simmer for about 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
• 6 in a blender or food processor, puree the vegetables with the cooking liquid and the tomato juice.
• 7 return the puree to the soup pot. stir in the peanut butter until smooth.
• 8 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.
• 9 reheat the soup gently, using a heat diffuser if needed to prevent scorching.
• 10 add more water, stock, or tomato juice for a thinner soup.
• 11 serve topped with plenty of chopped scallions or chives.