Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Beggin' For Mercy - African Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup


After 19 long days of fighting off sinus infections, croup, laryngitis, and bronchitis in my infirmary of a household, I’m ready to crawl out of the germ laden abyss and rejoin the land of the living. Lordy, I haven’t been that sick in a couple decades. I’m just now getting my voice back, so depending on your point of view, I either sound froggy or like an alluring, soulful jazz singer. I’m goin’ for the latter one.

After endless days of ingesting healing chicken broth and rice soup, my taste buds were begging for mercy. Time to test my new recipe for African Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup! It’s gluten free and vegetarian, too. Join me now, won’t you, for a new taste sensation that will have you begging for mercy – in a good way!

African Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 onion – chopped
2 cloves garlic – minced
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 large carrot – small diced
1 large sweet potato – small diced
¼ cup roasted red pepper – diced (optional)
1 can diced tomatoes – juice and all
2 14 oz cans veggie broth
¼ cup V-8 juice
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoons coriander
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup toasted peanuts, chopped
2 Tablespoons peanut butter

Garnishes: Chopped peanuts, cilantro, green onion, chopped pepper.

In a dutch oven, over med high heat,saute onion in the oil until it starts to brown, not quite 10 minutes. Add garlic and ginger, and stir for not quite one minute.Stir in carrot and sweet potato. Let sauté for a couple minutes, then add the roasted peppers and tomatoes. All at once, add the broth, juice, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. In a small sauté pan, quickly toast the peanuts over medium heat. Let cool and then chop.I usually put them in a zippered bag and give several good whacks with my meat mallet. Add to the soup, and either puree the soup with an immersion blender or ladle it carefully into a blender or food processor.I used my immersion blender. Leave some texture to the mixture.
Stir in the peanut butter, which will melt into the soup rather quickly. Just look at that amazing color!
>Now for a quick little taste. Mmmmmm!
Ladle into soup bowls and garnish as you desire. Serve. Feast with your eyes. Taste. Make yummy noises. Sing “Beggin You For Mercy” like Duffy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

27 comments:

Jennifer said...

That looks delicious, I have an African Peanut Butter soup but this sounds heartier! I am so glad you are feeling better

Esi said...

Hope you're feeling better! That is a really long illness. Growing up in a Ghanian family, we always had something similar to this. My mom swears it cures any illness.

Marjie said...

I love sweet potatoes! I would have to leave out the peppers, but, hey, life goes on. Did you get to try any soups from your "new" cookbook yet? Glad everyone is on the mend, Mrs. Jazz Singer!

Linda said...

Yum! I'm glad you're back and feeling better. I thought I'd have to send out a search party.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you're back too ~ and with soup! By the way, I tried the Scottish Skirlie and loved it. I'm making it again just for me.

pam said...

I'm so glad you are feeling better! I just keep on at my same level of yuckiness. Not getting any worse not getting any better.

Aggie said...

What a nice soup! Wow!

Oh, I've been thinking of you...not that I didn't love looking at your yummy dessert everytime I visited you....but I was missing you and your posts! So glad you are feeling better!

Manggy said...

Hee! I love the way you put it-- "new taste sensation!" I haven't tasted too many African dishes (for some reason there isn't a sizable enough African community in Southeast Asia, at least none that feel compelled to open a restaurant). But this delicious (and really really healthy-- check out all the veg!) soup leaves me craving for more!

Anonymous said...

Glad you are better and this looks delicious! Wow, I love it!

Pam said...

I am so glad you are okay - I was starting to worry about you!!

Your soup looks and sounds wonderful. I've never had a soup like it before - I guess it's time I try.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Glad to hear that you are all on the mend Paula. Now that you have your taste buds back I will look forward to more delicious recipes like this one:D

OhioMom said...

Sorry bout the marathon of illness in your household, and happy to see you back in the kitchen creating such a wonderful meal.

The food critic adores sweet taters, I will have to make this for him :)

Maria Verivaki said...

finally you are back! i am now in the middle of what you were in, but thankfully the children havent caught it. i have also been making a lot of soups lately - your one looks delicious, that red colour is so inviting...

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I believe that soup would have me begging for mercy in a good way. I've never had anything like and am anxious to try it.

Cathy said...

This yummy soup incorporates many of my favorite flavors. And peanuts too! Looks delicious.

Good news that you are feeling better, Paula.

The Blonde Duck said...

I'm glad you feel better!

Proud Italian Cook said...

Missed you Paula! Glad you're feeling better. This would be a new taste sensation for me,I would eagerly try this. Everything in it sounds great, and it looks so good too!

Lo said...

I love this idea... sweet potatoes make great soup, and I think African flavors are some of the lesser appreciated wonders of the world. Throw a little harissa in here and I'd be a happy woman!

Glad you're feeling better!

Marjie said...

Oh, and I noticed you have Christmas linens out, too. We're digging it all out Sunday, when almost everyone's home! Then Thor can go on his annual shopping trip!

Lisa said...

I love the color of your soup and the list of ingredients sounds wonderful! So, yes, I'll join you in trying this recipe. Thanks for the idea and ...glad you're feeling better. Being sick in December is the pits!

Jan said...

I have been wondering what had happened to you, and I'm so sorry to read that you have been sick. Still, I'm sure this soup hit the spot, it looks and sound souper good. :-)

grace said...

sorry you've been feeling poopy, but what a return! this soup sounds amazing, and it looks like it'd put a nice big smile of contentment on your face. :)

Chef Jeena said...

Lovely soup it sounds tasty and filling. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, it looks delicious! Thanks for sharing. And you're right, it is such a beautiful color!

Darius T. Williams said...

I love the flavors in this - this looks great!

Mari said...

I just found your blog today, linked from someone else's, and I just love it! Hope you don't mind, but I've added you to my blog list.

This soup looks incredible, and reading back through your older posts, you have a bunch of different recipes I'd like to try. Starting with that breakfast trifle... YUM!!!

Deborah said...

I'm glad you are feeling better. This sounds like it is full of flavor!