The last time I made this stew was in my mama’s kitchen about three years ago.
Don’t ask me why I haven’t made it since then, because I don’t have a good enough reason for you. There is no reason why I’ve waited so long to make this African Peanut Stew again … other than the fact that I am a food blogger and food bloggers hardly ever make the same thing twice. It’s just how the gig works.
Now that you know I rarely make the same thing twice, you can bet when I do make something more than once it has to be extra delicious.
I first heard about this African Peanut Stew recipe through my mama’s friend, and at the mention of peanut butter and sweet potatoes I was all in. I’ll never forget the day my mama came home from the office telling me about this recipe back in 2012. On and on she went about this amazing stew: how good and different it was, how she’d already bought the ingredients, and how we would be making it the next day.
Let me tell you — the soup lived up to its reputation. It did not disappoint. Then again, when has anything with peanut butter in it failed to be delicious? This is not to mention the other healthy ingredients this stew is loaded with like spinach, tomatoes, carrots and edamame. Packed in every bowl is a rainbow of nutrients that make you feel good from the inside out, as all food should.
The other day my dear neighbor and friend Traci asked if we could make dinner together, when suddenly this recipe popped into my mind. I don’t know if it was because we were talking about stew and I was eating a spoonful of peanut butter for a snack, but whatever the case I am happy that this stew has made its way back into my life. Hopefully it will find its way into yours as well.
You can eat this stew on its own, or add a scoop of rice to make it more filling. When it comes to the peanut butter, feel free to adjust the amount depending on how creamy you want the stew to be. The original recipe my mama’s friend shared with us only called for 1/4 cup peanut butter, but because I like creamy soups, I double the amount.
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- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium red onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
- 1/2 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons peeled and minced fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 sweet potato (12 oz.) peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 cups shelled edamame
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter, creamy
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- 1 bag (5 oz.) baby spinach leaves, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Coarsely ground black pepper
- Heat olive oil in a 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, carrot and celery; saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic, ginger and curry powder and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute; do not brown garlic. Add tomatoes and bay leaf; cook uncovered until tomatoes are slightly reduced, about 3 minutes.
- Add broth and sweet potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 12 minutes. Stir in edamame and peanut butter until combined. Cook until thoroughly heated, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro and spinach until spinach wilts. Season with salt and pepper.
This soup has all of the flavors I love. I can’t get enough peanut butter in savory dishes. Delicious!
Thanks Amanda!
I am LOVING this stew, Lauren! It looks super delicious and let’s face it, you are right. Anything with peanut butter has GOT to be scrumptious! I’ve never had African stew before, but from the list of ingredients and your pictures I’m wondering where I the world this bowl of YUM has been my whole life! Superb! So perfect for all this cold weather we have been getting recently! Hand me a serving spoon and a bibb! 😉 Cheers my dear! Xo
Thanks so much girl! I think you’ll find this stew to be one of your favorites whenever you make it! You’ll have to let me know what you think. 😉
I have never had soup with peanut butter in it, this is now on my list of soups to try this winter! I LOVE soup!
DELISH!! great for when the weather gets cool
Lauren, this stew sounds so savory and delicious! I’ve never tried Peanut Stew, but looks like I’ve been missing something good! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mary Ann! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do here at our home! 🙂
Wow this looks so good – and so healthy! (And such beautiful colors too)! I bet it is delicious!
I’ve never had this stew before but it looks and sounds utterly amazing! Love all the ingredients and flavors! So comforting and delicious!
This sounds SO good! I’m going to add it to my meal planning for next week! <3
Isn’t it funny how we typically never make the same thing more than once as food bloggers?? I WISH I did but I feel like there are just too many new things I want to try! Like this stew for instance…I’ve been wanting to make African Peanut Stew for years! Saving your recipe!
Wow this looks delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe!
♥ Heather and Melissa
What a gorgeous stew! All those colourful veggies – divine!
This soup looks soo good. You are right, anything with peanut butter is the best. Pinned it! Also – towel twinsies!
This soup sounds wonderful and totally new to me. I have only added peanut butter to cream soups, but this version with all those yummy veggies sounds way cooler!
Thanks so much Evi! You’ll have to let me know what you think if you end up making it! 🙂
This is such a fantastic stew!!
This is definitely for me and I’m definitely going to try it 🙂
I’m saving this recipe
This looks like a dish I would love. How could I not with such beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing the yumminess with the #fitfam! xoxo
This is so funny, because I used to make a recipe so much like this, but haven’t made it in 3 years either. Haha. I think I lost the magazine clipped recipe I was using, so THANK YOU so much for posting this. I loved that soup. So hearty and out of the norm. Love it! Take care!
Yum! At the mention of peanut butter and sweet potatoes I’m all-in too!!!
I can’t wait to try this stew! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
i LOVE all the ombre colors! and such a sweet memory of making this with your mom. great idea to add some rice to make it heartier. and i bet the leftovers make a great lunch. xo
Just the other day I was thinking about how my friends used to make me African Peanut Stew and that I need to look for a recipe! So excited to try yours!!
That looks so comforting and I love how colorful it is with all those yummy veggies.
Best,
Chrystal