Mark Bittman's Senegalese Peanut Soup

Experience the vibrant flavors of West Africa with Mark Bittman’s Senegalese Peanut Soup, a rich and comforting dish that combines creamy peanut butter, sweet potatoes, and tender spinach in a smooth, fragrant broth. Seasoned with warm spices like ginger and coriander, and balanced by a touch of cayenne heat, this hearty soup is perfect for cozy evenings or meal prepping. Finished with a garnish of chopped peanuts for crunch and a squeeze of lime for brightness, it’s an irresistible blend of sweet, spicy, and savory. Ready in under an hour, this recipe is both simple to prepare and packed with wholesome ingredients, making it a nourishing option for a satisfying dinner.

Nutriscore Rating: 74/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 0.75 cup peanut butter (natural, unsweetened)
• 4 cups spinach, chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 lime wedges (for serving)
• 0.25 cup chopped peanuts (for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens and becomes translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in the garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, and ground coriander. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the tomato paste and stir well to coat the onions and spices evenly.

Step 5

Pour in the chicken or vegetable stock, then add the diced sweet potatoes. Stir to combine.

Step 6

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.

Step 7

Whisk the peanut butter into the soup until fully incorporated, ensuring there are no clumps. Simmer for another 5 minutes.

Step 8

Stir in the chopped spinach and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, just until wilted.

Step 9

Season with salt and black pepper, adjusting to taste.

Step 10

Serve the soup hot, garnished with chopped peanuts and a lime wedge on the side for squeezing over the soup.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1865.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1925.7

Total Fat 137.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 18.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 16.8g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 5017.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 133.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 31.9g	0%
Total Sugars 34.8g
Protein 74.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 544.7mg	0%
Iron 15.1mg	0%
Potassium 4325.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.7%

Protein: 14.4%

Carbs: 25.9%