There hasn’t been any fresh local produce so far this year but I am still happy exploring the last of Winters reserves such as sweet potatoes. I have seen a few recipes for sweet potato and peanut soups over the last few weeks that have sounded good. I really like to use peanuts and peanut butter in savoury dishes and I am always on the lookout for new recipes. I saw several different versions of the sweet potato and peanut butter soups ranging from southwestern versions with chilies to Thai versions with curry pastes and coconut milk. Although the Thai version sounded great I wanted to start with a simpler one that really showcased the main ingredients, the sweet potatoes and the peanuts.
I started out by roasting some sweet potatoes until they were nice and caramelized and full of flavour. In the meantime I started making the soup base with the classic combination of onions, carrots, celery and garlic. From there I added a red pepper for some contrasting colour and flavour and I had some leftover chili peppers that went in for a bit of warmth. The final component of course was the peanut butter. The sweet potato and peanut soup was easy to make and it turned out wonderfully. The flavours of this soup were nice and simple and the sweet potato and peanut not only came through but they worked really well together. With the sweet potatoes and the peanut butter in the soup it was nice and thick and creamy. I garnished the soup with some chopped roasted peanuts and they added a really nice contrasting texture. The weather is supposed to be warming up over the next few days and I am looking forward to the coming fresh local produce but in the meantime I am going to be enjoying my sweet potato and peanut soup.
Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup
ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes (cleaned and cut in half lengthwise)
- 4 teaspoons oil
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 carrot (chopped)
- 2 stalks celery (chopped)
- 1 red pepper (chopped)
- 1 poblano pepper (chopped)
- 1 jalapeno pepper (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 3 cups chicken broth or chicken stock or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 handful peanuts (roasted and chopped)
- cilantro (chopped)
directions
- Brush the skins of the potatoes with the oil and set cut side down on a baking tray.
- Roast in a preheated 400F/200C oven until tender, about 40-60 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a pan.
- Add the onions, carrots, celery and peppers and saute until tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
- Scoop the flesh from the sweet potatoes skins and add it to the pan along with the broth and peanut butter. (Note: Sweet potatoes can be stringy and if you like, feel free to give them a spin in your food processor to smooth them out.)
- Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Feel free to use an immersion blender to bring the soup to the consistency that you like.
SWEET POTATO!!!!!!
Odd combination but sounds great! It’s just getting to the cold months here now so that sounds like the perfect bowl of soup to cosy up to.
I’m also waiting for the local produce. Sigh.
This soup sounds delish – great combo. If only my hubby wasn’t allergic to peanuts I’d make it in heartbeat. Perhaps it would work with cashews? What do you think?
Oooooh, I love sweet potatoes with peanut butter! I even adore a baked sweet potato with peanut butter for a quick lunch… so your soup sounds absolutely, beautifully perfect to me! 🙂
Oh yes, what a great idea to roast the sweet potato and the hot peppers are a must. I included some black beans in soup I made recently with sweet potato and peanut butter. Also am smitten with your garnish. Elegance indeed!
Sweet potatoes are a winner, I love them always 🙂
I’ll have to give your recipe a try. The version that I made ended up being very stringy from the sweet pots. The flavor was great, but the texture was off. Can’t wait to try your version! 🙂
A beautiful north African kind of soup – perfect for those last days of winter!
Kevin, I’ve seen the pairing of sweet poaoto and peanuts before, but never tried it. Time to wake up the old taste buds!
I finally gave into all of your delicious looking mango recipes and you hit me with an equally delicious sweet potato soup! Time to go out and buy some sweet potatoes…!
What a nice combo. I love sweet potatoes
This sounds delicious!! I am not a huge sweet potato fan but I think I will have to make an exception for this.
Mmm, this sounds so good!
Interesting addition of peanut butter-I don’t think I’ve ever tried that!
Wonderful! I love that shot!
Cheers,
Rosa
What a delicious looking soup! I love sweet potato AND peanuts! In fact, sometimes I wonder if I’m eating too many peanuts. Oh well! Bookmarking this recipe.
Peanuts in your soup? hey, that sounds pretty good to me!
I’m always up for any kind of new soup, especially vegetarian. This looks healthy, and hearty.
Things are looking very delicious over here. It has been a long time since I stopped by your blog. Thank you for your comment on my baklava today!
Wow! This sounds amazing. Love sweet potatoes and the addition of peanut butter with the peppers is intriguing and mouthwatering.
This sounds absolutely tastey Kevin. I have been looking for a good sweet potato soup recipe.
Sounds like a great combination with the chiles!
These are definitely two of my favorite flavors and the combination sounds great! I think sweet potatoes can (and should) be enjoyed all year round. And we’re pretty low on the local produce as well, I can’t wait for summer Farmer’s Markets.
That soup sounds great and I love the photo Kevin!
Love the broken up peanuts in the photo. Very cool. It’s going to be in the 80s where I am today, but I love the idea of this soup. Thanks for stopping by my blog to comment on the crab cakes. Jut joined daring bakers and used one of your recently favored ingredients in the challenge.
Have you discovered my weakness for PB in anything and sweet potatoes in general?!?!?! Put the two together and it’s just magic, heaven, nirvana!! I’ve made many things with PB + SP, but never a soup, I’ll try this for sure-o!
Peanut soup is very popular in VA but with that sweet potato- now you’re talking! Beautiful looking soup.
No local fresh produce?! I don’t think you would ever be truly happy again if you saw Adelaide’s Central Market
Sweet potato with three different peppers and peanuts? What a killer combo. Nice soup, Kevin!
You will be my inspiration to get myself to the local farmers markets on a regular basis this year! Soup really sounds great 🙂
I make peanut soup, but now I will make sweet potato soup! Heck yeah! Thanks Kevin.
If you can find andouille try adding that to sweet potato soup. The sweet/spicy combo is incredible!
I’ve always liked the idea of sweet potato/peanut soup but this is the first recipe I’ve liked…Well done!
Bookmarked!
danamccauley: Cashews should work, though, cashew butter is a bit more expensive.
You are such a good cook! I always wonder if it would be different if you lived in a place like Texas where all kinds of peppers and avacodos are dirt cheap.
winter can last all year if i can eat things like this. such a gorgeous photo- it looks delicious.
(and don’t be too jealous, but we’re lucky here in nyc- got fresh asparagus, spinach, mushrooms and ramps at the farmer’s market this morning.)
mmm. i love peanut soup. the addition of sweet potato sounds amazing!
I’m going to try this as we all love sweet potatoes and are hoping the 3 year old will eat it – he usually can’t get enough of sweet potatoes and peanuts! I may go a bit light on the peppers but then again, the little guy loves his spice already!
Mark F Garso 37
I just love sweet potato soup, but have never thought of adding peanuts to it! Your version sounds really interesting.
Greetings,
Tiina
This is one of my favorite kinds of soups – yum!
Voglio provare anch’io a cucinare questa zuppa… con le arachidi.
i absolutely adore the combo of sweet potatoes and peanuts. I think it’s a West African thing. Try putting peanut sauce on a baked sweet potato… it’s heaven!!
This sounds delicious. Love that you roasted the sweet potatoes first, they’re so much nicer that way!
MMMMMMMM….Kevin! this soup looks outstandingly yummie 8)!!! Great food!
This looks unbelievable! Yum!!
interesting idea there! i love that the sweet potato gets roasted first!
Funny – I made a resolution ove the wekeend to eat more sweet potatoes. Seldom that somethign so good for you is so tasty 🙂 Love the contrasting flavours in this soup.
YUM! I love both of those flavors. I’m going to hav eto try this!
What a beautiful photo! And soup!
I'm just about to make this soup and have no doubt it will be a delicious as it sounds.
Love soups! This one is really delicious!
Love this. Sweet potato soups are fun to play with. I sometimes do a Thai style one with coconut, but peanut butter sounds equally good. I love spicy peanut sauces so this doesn't seem out of place at all.
So good ! What a pleasant surprise. thanks!
I just made this soup, after having had it pinned on my 'To Try' board on Pinterest for a long time. It was AMAZING. Tasted great and looked exactly like the photo. I did everything as stated in the recipe. I did put the roasted sweet potatoes through a food processor before adding to the pot. I also ran the finished soup through the food processor (no immersion blender) and the result was a hearty and chunky soup. Great peanut flavor, nice heat that cools off quickly. Definitely garnish with chopped peanuts and cilantro. A true hit, thanks for the great recipe 🙂