Inspired by the West African dish Mafe, this one-pot soup is rich, hearty, and full of flavour. Creamy peanut butter and tomato paste create a luscious base, while sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and kale make it a nourishing, filling meal. It has a gentle kick from cayenne pepper, which you can adjust to your taste.
INGREDIENTS
Makes 5-7 servings
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (or any neutral oil)
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (or more to taste)
- 1 tsp sea salt, plus more if needed
- 2 medium (about 600 g) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into small cubes (about 4 ½ cups)
- 5 cups vegetable broth
- ¾ cup (210 g) Peanut Butter Sea Salt
- ½ cup (130 g) tomato paste
- 1 (14 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2-3 large kale leaves, stems removed and leaves chopped into bite-size pieces
To garnish:
- Lime wedges
- ¼ cup peanuts, roughly chopped
- Fresh cilantro leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent.
- Stir in the garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 1–2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add the sweet potatoes and stir to coat. Pour in the vegetable broth, cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and leave the lid slightly ajar.
- In a heat-safe bowl or large measuring cup, mix the peanut butter and tomato paste. Ladle in about 1 cup of the hot broth (avoiding potato chunks is ideal, but onion bits are fine). Whisk until smooth, then pour the mixture back into the pot and stir to combine.
- Simmer for 15–20 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are tender. Taste and add more salt if needed. For a creamier soup, you can blend a portion using an immersion blender (optional).
- Stir in the chickpeas and kale. Cook for another 4–5 minutes, until the kale softens.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot with lime wedges, chopped peanuts, and fresh cilantro.
