Saharan West African Peanut And Pineapple Soup Recipes

AFRICAN YAM AND PEANUT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat stock. I actually only use about 4 cups of stock, because I like my soup thick.
• In a big soup pot, heat oil. Saute onions with a pinch of salt for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, ginger and spices and sauté until everything's soft.
• Stir in red peppers and yams, cooking them until they start to stick to the bottom of the pot.
• Add stock, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Cover and simmer until yams are tender.
• Add pineapple with juice, tomatoes and peanut butter and simmer 30 minutes. Add stock if needed.
• Purée the soup until smooth. I just use my blender.
• Season to taste with more salt, pineapple juice and/or hot sauce. Just before serving, add chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice.

AFRICAN PINEAPPLE PEANUT STEW

Steps:

• In a covered saucepan, saute the onions and garlic in the oil for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are lightly browned.
• While the onions saute, wash the kale.
• Remove the stems. Stack the leaves on a cutting surface and slice crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices.
• Add the pineapple and its juice to the onions and bring to a simmer. Stir in the kale, cover, and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring a couple of times, until just tender.
• Mix in the peanut butter, hot pepper sauce, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add salt to taste.

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.