Why We Love This West African Peanut Butter Soup Recipe
Really, what isn’t better with peanut butter?! This wonder legume adds an amazing earthy-ish taste and luscious texture to practically any dish, from sweet to savory. Including soups! Maafe (AKA Tigadegena and Domoda) is a traditional African peanut soup popular in Ghana, Senegal, and Gambia. It is made with chicken and vegetables, in a creamy peanut butter and garlic base. West African Peanut Stew features bold flavors in a velvety rich broth – with just a bit of heat from crushed red pepper. Every bite is vibrant, satisfying, and keeps you coming back for another spoonful. Start to finish this recipe only requires about 30 minutes to make. So it’s terrific for a quick but hearty dinner any night of the week! Serve the West African-inspired soup as-is for a low-carb option, or enjoy over rice, like an African curry. Either way, everyone will be coming back for another bowl of this decadent and delightful soup!
Ingredients You Need
This homemade Maafe recipe uses simple, whole ingredients for a good-for-you soup! Here’s what you’ll need:
Sweet onion – peeled and cut into wedges Tomatoes – cut into wedges Ginger – peeled Garlic– peeled Peanut butter – creamy Chicken broth – or bouillon with water Chicken breasts – cut into 1-inch pieces Bell pepper – seeded and chopped Carrot – sliced (or diced sweet potato) Spices – crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper (jalapeno or scotch bonnet pepper can also be used) Optional garnishes – chopped peanuts and cilantro
How to Make African Peanut Soup
First, set out a blender. Place the onion wedges, tomato wedges, piece of ginger, garlic cloves, and peanut butter in the blender. Cover and purée until smooth. Set a large saucepan (or dutch oven) over medium heat. Pour the peanut butter purée into the pot. Then add the chopped pieces of chicken. Stir in the broth, chopped bell pepper, carrots, and crushed red pepper. Add 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir well and bring the peanut soup to a low boil. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Stir it regularly to make sure the chicken and veggies do not stick to the bottom of the pot. Taste, then season with salt and pepper as needed.
Maafe Tips & Tricks
Add more veggies! This peanut butter African soup can be made even more nutritious if you add some extra greens like kale! If you don’t have a blender, simply dice the tomatoes, onion, ginger, and garlic into small pieces! Don’t love rice? You can serve your African peanut stew with naan bread or any crusty bread of your choice! If you or anyone you know has a peanut allergy, you can replace the peanut butter sunflower seed butter! This will still lend a deep, nutty flavor to the African stew without any risk!
Serving Suggestions
Ladle into bowls and top the soup with crunchy crushed peanuts and chopped fresh cilantro. Enjoy Maafe as-is for a low-carb and protein-rich soup that’s healthy, hearty, and most importantly IMO, delicious. Serve with a scoop of white rice or jollof rice snuggled into the bowl to eat more like a classic curry dish.
Looking For More Scrumptious Soups? Be Sure To Also Try These Easy Recipes:
Low Carb Chicken Mushroom Soup Homemade Chicken and Dumplings Easy Instant Pot Black Bean Soup Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
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