How to Make Peanut Soup for Kwanzaa

Soups and stews are some of the most popular of African dishes because of their adaptability to include whatever fruits or vegetables are available. Kwanzaa is an adaptation of the harvest celebrations of African countries, so it follows that various soups and stews that would be popular in Kwanzaa meals.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 2 cardamom pods
• 1 onion, trimmed
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Bucket
• Large container
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 stalks of celery chopped finely
• 6 1/2 cups of beef and chicken stock
• 5 chicken drumsticks
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 tsp. of cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 pound of unsalted roasted peanuts
• 3 tbsp. of olive oil
• 2 tbsp. of the white part of leeks
• 1 gallon of water
• Parsley and chopped nuts for garnish
• Blender
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 cup of cream
• 1 cup of kosher salt (What follows is for stock)
• 1 leek, trimmed
• Large pot
• 1 tomato
• 1 onion minced finely
• 3 stalks of celery
• 1/2 tsp. of cumin
• Heavy saucepan or Dutch oven
• 1 lb. of beef tenderloin
• 1 clove of garlic, minced

Make Stock

1. Make brine by adding the kosher salt and gallon of water to a bucket.

2. Soak the chicken pieces in the brine for at least 2 hours. Then remove and rinse the chicken thoroughly and set aside.

3. Place the beef in the large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil and let cook for about 30 minutes. Take off the foam that gathers at the top with a wood spoon and discard.

4. Add the chicken to the pot and bring to a boil. Add all of the vegetables and seasonings (from the stock section of the ingredients) and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is fully cooked.

5. Remove the meat from the pot and then strain the liquid and vegetables through cheesecloth, at least two times. Store this in a large container.

Make Peanut Soup for Kwanzaa

6. Grind the peanuts into a very fine consistency in a blender or food processor.

7. Heat the oil in your saucepan and saute garlic, onions, celery and leeks until they are translucent.

8. Add the seasonings (from the recipe portion of ingredients), ground peanuts and stock to pot and bring to a boil.

9. Reduce the heat, cover pot and simmer for at least 30 minutes.

10. Add cream and milk into soup pot and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.

11. Garnish peanut soup with parsley and chopped peanuts.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many people that have peanut allergies, so make all Kwanzaa guest aware that the soup contains peanuts.