Groundnut Soup Food

PEANUT (GROUNDNUT) SOUP

Steps:

• Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water, peel off the skin and blend the flesh to a smooth juice. If using canned tomatoes, blend.
• Put the peanut butter into a big bowl, add 3/4 pt. of the boiling water and use a wooden spoon or a blender to blend the peanut butter and water carefully together to form a creamy, smooth sauce.
• Mix together the tomatoes, peanut butter mixture, red chilies and mushrooms.
• Continue to simmer, stirring only occasionally to prevent the food sticking to the bottom of the pan. This is now the basic soup.
• Pour the rest of the boiling water into the soup and simmer slowly on medium heat for 20 mins or so.

GROUNDNUT SOUP

Steps:

• Put the peanuts and enough chicken stock to cover in an electric blender and blend on high speed to a smooth paste.
• Pour into a heavy saucepan, add the rest of the stock.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and hot pepper sauce.
• Cook over low heat, stirring from time to time, for about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the cream and cook, stirring, until heated through.
• Stir in the Angostura bitters.
• A tablespoon of dry sherry or dry vermouth may be added to each serving.
• Garnish with croutons and serve hot or chill and serve sprinkled with chives.

PEANUT SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse the smoked turkey, then add it to a large pot with the salt. Cut the onion in half and add one of the halves to the pot; chop the other half and add it to the pot too. Add the ginger and habanero pepper, if using, then add water to cover. Cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent, the fat from the wings begins to render and the broth is very fragrant, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the habanero pepper, if using, and transfer it to a blender or food processor. Add the peanut butter, garlic and 3 cups water to the blender and blend 1 minute. Stir the peanut butter mixture into the broth; it will foam and bubbles will form on the surface. Cook, stirring continuously to stop it from boiling over, about 5 minutes; some of the foam/bubbles will disappear and the soup will settle.
• Remove the ginger from the soup, add it to the same blender (cut it into smaller pieces first, if desired) with 2 cups of the soup and blend until smooth. Stir the ginger mixture back into the soup. Transfer the onion half to the blender with 1 cup of the soup and blend until smooth; stir the mixture into the soup to combine. Stir in the tomato sauce. Let the soup simmer until it starts to thicken, about 5 minutes.
• If using the mushrooms, add them to the soup, cover and let simmer, about 5 minutes, then remove the cover (if not adding the mushrooms, proceed to the next step).
• Let the soup simmer over medium-low heat until the meat and mushrooms, if using, are tender and little oil patches form on the surface, about 10 minutes. Adjust with salt if needed. Serve with fufu, omo tuo or steamed rice.

GHANA PEANUT SOUP (NKATENKWAN)

Steps:

• Place the whole onion, pepper, tomatoes and chicken pieces in the pot and top with the stock. Cover, bring to the boil and reduce to simmer for 15 minutes till vegetables are soft and tender. Remove the vegetables.
• Blend the vegetables and ginger in a food processor and return to the soup. Bring to the boil then reduce to simmer while you make the peanut butter sauce. If you are using boiler chicken, it can be quite tough, so it may need extra time cooking.
• Meanwhile, make the peanut butter sauce. There are different ways of doing this, I have opted to go for what is easier for me. Scoop the desired amount of peanut butter into a saucepan and put on gentle heat with constant stirring, peanut butter burns easily.
• Add water a little at a time. This can be quite tricky as the water instantly changes the runny peanut butter properties. I would say it is a similar experience to white sauce, when the milk is added to the flour and butter mixture. Once a smooth sauce is achieved, allow to simmer. You will find the peanut oil begins to separate from the peanut butter. When this happens, you can add the peanut butter sauce to the rest of the soup and simmer for 20 minutes till oil rises to the surface of the soup.
• Check seasoning to your taste. Serve with your favourite carbs such as boiled sliced yam, potatoes or rice.