Description
This African Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal featuring tender sweet potatoes simmered in a rich tomato and peanut butter broth, seasoned with aromatic spices and finished with fresh kale and crunchy peanuts. Perfect for a comforting vegan and gluten-free dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 lbs. (about 6 medium) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger piece, grated
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup chunky peanut butter
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 cups chopped kale
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- ¼ cup shelled salted peanut halves
Instructions
- Sauté Onion: In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it becomes soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes, to build the stew’s aromatic base.
- Cook Sweet Potatoes: Add the peeled and diced sweet potatoes to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and allow the potatoes to start softening.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger. Cook for 30 seconds to release their flavors without burning.
- Add Liquids and Seasonings: Pour in the broth, diced tomatoes, and add the chunky peanut butter, cumin, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine all ingredients and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer with Kale: Once boiling, add the chopped kale. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are very soft. Mash some of the sweet potatoes with a spoon to thicken the stew naturally.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and ladle the stew into bowls. Garnish each serving with fresh cilantro leaves and shelled salted peanut halves for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can use vegetable broth to keep the stew vegan, or chicken broth if you prefer a non-vegetarian option.
- Chunky peanut butter adds texture and richness; smooth peanut butter can be used but may alter the stew’s consistency.
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
- For extra protein, consider adding cooked chickpeas or lentils.
- This stew tastes even better the next day as flavors meld nicely.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup/Stew
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: African
Keywords: African stew, sweet potato stew, peanut butter stew, vegan stew, gluten free stew, kale stew, one pot meal
