You know how sometimes you have really crisp, distinct memories of nothing in particular?
I barely remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, but for some reason, I have a very clear memory of making peanut soup in our old home back in Wisconsin.
I was frozen to the bone after getting home from work and looking out the kitchen window, I could see the snow falling in the street lights. I remember getting the cilantro out of the crisper drawer, measuring out the peanut butter, and chopping the onions.
So now, I always associate peanut soup with cold weather and snowy evenings. Which kind of makes it perfect for January, right?
This particular African Peanut Soup recipe is from The 30 Minute Vegan: Soup’s On! by Mark Reinfeld. I am so excited about this book–it contains over 100 plant-based soup recipes!
But the best part is that almost all the soups come together in 30 minutes or less. Yes, you can have soup for dinner in 30 minutes!
If you resolved to make more home cooked meatless meals in the New Year, this is the kind of cookbook you need–these are doable recipes, not the fussy kind that you need to make on a Sunday afternoon. These are after work recipes!
Peanut soup is not exactly the lightest soup, but this recipe includes an option for trimming things down a little bit by using less coconut milk.
I made the non-light version because even though this African Peanut Soup is pretty calorie-dense, it’s also very filling, so I don’t feel the need to go back for seconds.
The chunks of sweet potatoes are perfect with the creamy, peanutty base. Although the book recommends garnishing with a Red Pepper Coulis, we loved it with just a scattering of cilantro and chopped peanuts on top.
From the book The 30 Minute Vegan Soup’s On! by Mark Reinfeld. Excerpted by arrangement with Da Capo Lifelong, a member of the Perseus Books Group. Copyright (c) 2013. www.dacapopresscookbooks.com

Ingredients
- 3 cups vegetable stock or water2 15-ounce cans coconut milk1 cup diced yellow onion1/2 cup diced celery4 large garlic cloves, pressed or minced1 teaspoon seeded and diced hot chile pepper4 cups chopped sweet potato (1/2-inch pieces)1 1/2 cups chopped tomato (1/2-inch pieces) or 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes2 teaspoons sea salt, or to taste1/4 teaspoon ground black pepperPinch of cayenne pepper1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari or other soy sauce (optional)1 tablespoon Berbere spice mix (optional)3/4 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, for garnish
Instructions
- Place the vegetable stock in a 3-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add all the remaining ingredients, except the peanut butter, cilantro, and peanuts, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.Remove about 1 cup of the liquid and place it into a small bowl. Add the peanut butter and stir until creamy. Return the mixture to the pot, stir well, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.Add the cilantro, stir well, and garnish with peanuts before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on January 16, 2014.
93 Comments
mjskit
January 16, 2014 at 11:29 pmOh I love savory dishes with peanut butter! This soup looks delicious and I have all of the ingredients except for the Berbere spice mix. I could make this this weekend. Thanks for sharing!!
Kiersten Frase
January 20, 2014 at 2:54 pmI made it without the spice mix and it was still delicious, so you could definitely omit that! 🙂
Genevieve
January 18, 2014 at 3:21 pmThis is my kind of soup – something that’s filling enough to be a meal on its own, and the combination of peanut butter with sweet potato and spices always works for me! I also like when a soup is thick enough to hold toppings like peanuts without them disappearing down to the bottom of the bowl!
Kiersten Frase
January 20, 2014 at 2:46 pmYes, soups are normally one of my least favorite things to photograph, but this one was a breeze since everything stayed put! 🙂
Kathleen
January 19, 2014 at 1:21 pmI can’t wait to make this!! I LOVE making soups. Thanks so much for posting.
Julie hennessey
January 19, 2014 at 9:51 pmAbsolutely delicious !!
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom
January 21, 2014 at 10:25 pmEven the picture looks fragrant! I need more soup recipes in my repertoire during the winter months.
Kiersten Frase
January 22, 2014 at 10:26 pmDo you have soup weather in Texas?! 😉
Erika
January 23, 2014 at 4:46 pmOoh I remember the first time I saw peanut soup and it looked irresistible!! I am in love with the fact that this uses peanut butter AND sweet potatoes in the base! And I had to laugh at the first line of your post because I was trying so hard to remember what I ate for lunch yesterday…but of course I could remember exactly what I put in the banana cake I made last week. Thanks, brain.
Kiersten Frase
January 24, 2014 at 8:34 pmOur brains betray us! I totally remember the most bizarre things, but important things like pin numbers and passwords, nope. Why does that happen?!
Kathy
January 23, 2014 at 8:50 pmThis was really good. My husband loved it. I found a recipe to make my own Berbere spice mix. I can’t wait to have leftovers!!!
Kiersten Frase
January 24, 2014 at 8:31 pmI’m glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Joel
January 24, 2014 at 8:12 pmI assumed this was a blended soup but I didn’t see that anywhere in the instructions. Checking to make sure you’re not supposed to blend it to make it creamy.
Kiersten Frase
January 24, 2014 at 8:23 pmIt’s creamy from the coconut milk and peanut butter; it doesn’t need to be blended.
Paula
January 26, 2014 at 9:53 pmJust looking over the recipe and pictures of the soup…it looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it!
Kiersten Frase
January 27, 2014 at 8:31 pmThank you–I hope you like it!
Tracy McInally
February 19, 2014 at 8:21 pmdo you have to puree the mixture to ensure sweet potatoes get mixed in? seems a little chunky putting into the pot for soup
Kiersten Frase
February 19, 2014 at 8:35 pmNo, it’s not meant to be a pureed soup; there are pieces of sweet potatoes and tomatoes in it.
Karri
July 21, 2014 at 2:06 pmI love this recipe! I’ve blended it and just left it a little chunky and both are great! Wonderful and easy recipe!
Kiersten Frase
July 21, 2014 at 3:49 pmThanks for your comment – I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Colah
July 23, 2014 at 1:26 amI’m making this tomorrow! The sweet potato and peanut butter combination reminds me of the times when I used to put PB on baked sweet potato instead of butter and how awesome it was. So I’m looking forward to this 🙂
Kiersten Frase
July 25, 2014 at 2:19 pmIt’s such a good combination, isn’t it?! 😀
olivia
August 6, 2014 at 5:45 pmThis was the first soup that I have ever made and it was fantastic recipe. I absolutely loved the soup!! Thank you for posting this 🙂
Kiersten Frase
August 12, 2014 at 3:04 pmI’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Ashley
November 9, 2014 at 7:58 pmThis soup was delicious!!! I had to cook it longer because the sweet potatoes were taking a while but it was worth it. I added coriander and left out the celery. Even my non-vegan parents loved it! This is definitely a must-make!
aimèe artigliere
November 22, 2014 at 7:57 pmDelicious! Thank you!
Aimèe Artigliere
December 6, 2014 at 9:46 pmDelicious! Now a family favorite. Thanks so much!
June Burns
January 11, 2015 at 11:33 amWow that looks incredible! So creamy and flavorful, mmmm 🙂
Millie | Add A Little
January 11, 2015 at 1:26 pmLooks super tasty and comforting! Yum!
Alexa [fooduzzi.com]
January 11, 2015 at 3:26 pmGoodness…this sounds insanely comforting! With this crazy cold weather we’re having, I will be sure to give this a try! Thanks!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
January 11, 2015 at 4:00 pmThis looks so comforting and delicious! Totally my kind of soup!
Tyra
January 13, 2015 at 12:29 pmMmm mmm mmm can’t wait to make this heart warming soup. I can just imagine the warmth from the heat and the silkiness from the coconut milk and peanuts gliding down my tongue and throat.
Janet
January 13, 2015 at 2:25 pmAny thoughts on using a powdered peanut butter to ease up on the fat calories? I bought a jar, but I haven’t used it yet.
Kiersten Frase
January 14, 2015 at 2:49 pmI use powdered peanut butter in smoothies, but I’ve never cooked with it. My guess would be that it would work, but the soup would be a little thinner. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
Danielle
January 27, 2015 at 3:12 pmDid you use regular peanut butter for this or the natural, unsweetened, non-hydrogenated peanut butter? I used the natural stuff and felt like my soup lacked a little sweetness. Will try with regular peanut butter next time.
Megan
March 8, 2015 at 6:53 pmThis is amazing! Enjoying a bowl of it now.
Thanks for the fantastic recipe 🙂
Akanksha
March 10, 2015 at 12:09 amWow! This was delicious and my husband is convinced this is what he wants to eat everyday for at least the next week. Was very easy once I got all the prep out of the way, I’m a little slow so it definitely took me more than 10 minutes :p thank you for posting!!