This incredible Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Soup combines creamy sweet potatoes with rich peanut butter, aromatic curry spices, and a hint of coconut for a soul-warming bowl of pure comfort. Ready in just over an hour, this soup delivers complex flavors that taste like they’ve been simmering all day. Perfect for chilly evenings when you need something substantial but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unique Flavor Profile: The combination of sweet potatoes and peanut butter creates a surprisingly delicious harmony that will impress even skeptical eaters.
- Nutritional Powerhouse: Packed with vitamins from sweet potatoes, protein from peanut butter, and healthy fats from coconut milk – it’s comfort food you can feel good about.
- Versatile: Works beautifully as a main dish with bread or as a starter for a larger meal. You can easily adjust the spice level to suit your preferences.
- Makes Great Leftovers: The flavors deepen overnight, making this perfect for meal prep or busy weeknight planning.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Neutral Oil: Creates the flavor base for sautéing vegetables without overwhelming the other ingredients.
- Onion: Yellow or red onions provide a sweet aromatic foundation – red onions offer a slightly sweeter profile.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds essential punchy flavor that dried simply can’t match.
- Curry Powder: The secret weapon that ties everything together, adding warmth and complex spice notes.
- Sweet Potatoes: The star of the show! Their natural sweetness balances the savory elements and creates the soup’s creamy texture.
- Vegetable Broth: Forms the liquid base of the soup – choose a high-quality one for best results.
- Whole Tomatoes: Adds acidity to balance the sweetness and creaminess while providing depth of flavor.
- Cayenne Pepper: Optional but recommended for a gentle heat that enhances the other flavors.
- Chunky Peanut Butter: Provides protein, richness, and those delightful little peanut bits for texture variation.
- Coconut Milk: Rounds out the flavors with tropical richness and creates the silky-smooth finish.
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Variations
Protein Boosts
Add a can of drained chickpeas or lentils during the last 15 minutes of cooking for extra protein and heartiness.
Vegetable Additions
Toss in a handful of chopped spinach or kale just before serving for added nutrition and a pop of color.
Spice Adjustments
Replace curry powder with garam masala for a different spice profile, or add fresh ginger for a zingy kick.
Texture Options
Keep it chunky for a rustic meal, or blend completely smooth for an elegant first course. Partially blending creates a perfect middle ground.
How to Make Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Soup
Step 1: Create Your Flavor Base
In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm the oil until shimmering. Add diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until translucent and tender. Add minced garlic and curry powder, cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant. This step builds your foundation of flavor!
Step 2: Add Sweet Potatoes
Add diced sweet potatoes to the aromatic mixture and cook for 2 additional minutes, allowing them to get slightly coated with the spices and oil.
Step 3: Simmer the Main Ingredients
Pour in the tomatoes, vegetable broth, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cover the pot, bring everything to a gentle boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Let this mixture cook for 20 minutes, allowing the sweet potatoes to soften.
Step 4: Incorporate the Creaminess
Add the chunky peanut butter and coconut milk to the pot, stirring well to incorporate. Cover again and simmer for 30 more minutes. During this time, the flavors meld together and the soup develops its signature richness.
Step 5: Finish the Soup
Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. For a smoother consistency, use an immersion blender to puree some or all of the soup, depending on your texture preference.
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Potato Sizing: Cut sweet potatoes into uniform pieces (about 1-inch cubes) for even cooking.
- Peanut Butter Tip: Warm your peanut butter slightly before adding to make it easier to incorporate into the soup.
- Layered Spices: Add half the curry powder with the onions and the other half with the sweet potatoes for deeper flavor development.
- Texture Control: For the perfect texture, blend just half the soup and mix it back with the chunky portion for a balanced consistency.
How to Serve
Perfect Pairings
Serve with a slice of crusty bread, naan, or a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness.
Garnish Ideas
Top each bowl with a swirl of coconut milk, a sprinkle of chopped roasted peanuts, fresh cilantro, or thinly sliced red chilies for color and extra flavor.
Complete the Meal
For a fuller meal, serve smaller portions alongside a grain bowl with quinoa or rice, roasted vegetables, and a protein of your choice.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
This soup actually improves with time! Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavors will continue to develop and deepen.
Freezing
Freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Leave a bit of headspace as the soup will expand when frozen.
Reheating
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth or water if the soup has thickened too much during storage.
FAQs
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Can I use smooth peanut butter instead of chunky?
Absolutely! Smooth peanut butter will create a more uniform texture throughout the soup. If you miss the texture that chunky provides, consider adding a handful of chopped roasted peanuts as a garnish when serving.
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Is this soup spicy?
With the specified amount of cayenne, it has a mild warmth rather than being truly spicy. You can easily adjust this by omitting the cayenne completely for a mild version or doubling it for more heat. The curry powder adds flavor but minimal heat.
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Can I make this soup in a slow cooker?
Yes! Sauté the onions, garlic, and curry powder on the stovetop first, then transfer to a slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, adding the peanut butter and coconut milk during the last hour of cooking.
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How can I make this soup without coconut milk?
If you’re avoiding coconut, substitute with heavy cream, half-and-half, or for a non-dairy option, use unsweetened almond milk or cashew cream. Each will change the flavor profile slightly but will maintain the creamy texture.
Final Thoughts
This Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Soup is truly a game-changer in the soup world. It brings together ingredients you might not expect to work so beautifully together, creating something greater than the sum of its parts. Whether you’re looking to expand your recipe collection, impress dinner guests, or simply enjoy a nourishing meal on a busy weeknight, this soup delivers. Don’t let the unique combination intimidate you – once you try it, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making it all along!
Print
Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: African-inspired
Description
A cozy and comforting bowl of soup combining the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes, the nuttiness of peanut butter, and a hint of warmth from curry spices. This creamy and satisfying dish is perfect for any day you need a hearty yet simple meal.
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 1 tablespoon of neutral oil
- 1 small yellow or red onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon of curry powder
- 2 large sweet potatoes, diced
- 2 cups of vegetable broth
- 28 ounces of whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/2 cup of chunky peanut butter
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics
In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the oil and heat it up. Once the oil is hot, add the diced onion and sauté for about 2 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent and tender. Then, add the minced garlic and curry powder, stirring them into the onions, and continue to sauté for another 2 minutes to allow the spices to bloom. - Cook the Sweet Potatoes
Add the diced sweet potatoes into the pot. Stir them into the sautéed aromatics and let the mixture cook for another 2 minutes to begin softening the sweet potatoes. - Simmer the Soup
Stir in the chopped tomatoes, vegetable broth, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cover the pot, bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes. This will allow the sweet potatoes to fully soften and the flavors to meld together. - Incorporate the Peanut Butter and Coconut Milk
Add the chunky peanut butter and coconut milk into the pot. Stir to combine. Once incorporated, cover the pot again and allow the soup to simmer for another 30 minutes. This step ensures a creamy, rich consistency and enhances the flavor profile.
Notes
- Time-Saving Tip: Buy pre-chopped onion, sweet potato, and garlic to reduce prep time.
- Stock Quality: Use a rich, high-quality vegetable broth to elevate the soup’s flavor.
- Adjust Consistency: If you prefer a thicker or thinner soup, adjust the amount of vegetable broth accordingly.
- For Creaminess: Blend some or all of the soup using an immersion blender or countertop blender for a creamier texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 430kcal
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
