Groundnut Soup with Chicken
A rich and savory Ghanaian groundnut soup, also known as Nkatenkwan, made with chicken, tomatoes, and aromatic spices. It's a comforting and flavorful stew often served with fufu or rice.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken(cut into pieces)
- 250 g Peanut Butter(unsweetened, smooth)
- 400 g Tomatoes(chopped)
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch Ginger(grated)
- 1-2 pieces Scotch Bonnet Pepper(to taste, whole or chopped)
- 1 liter Chicken Broth
- 2 tbsp Palm Oil
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black Pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In a pot, heat palm oil over medium heat and brown the chicken on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 2
In the same pot, sauté chopped onions until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- 3
Add chopped tomatoes and cook down for about 10 minutes until they break down. Add the scotch bonnet pepper.
- 4
In a separate bowl, whisk the peanut butter with a little warm water or chicken broth until smooth. This helps prevent lumps.
- 5
Return the browned chicken to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth and the smooth peanut butter mixture. Stir well to combine.
- 6
Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for at least 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender and the soup has thickened. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- 7
Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. If the soup is too thick, add a little more broth or water. If too thin, simmer uncovered for a bit longer.
- 8
Serve hot with fufu, boiled yam, or rice.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure your peanut butter is unsweetened for the best flavor.
- ✓Whisking the peanut butter with liquid before adding it to the pot is crucial to avoid lumps.
- ✓Adjust the amount of scotch bonnet pepper based on your spice preference.
- ✓Slow simmering allows the flavors to meld and the soup to thicken naturally.
🔄 Variations
- Use beef or goat meat instead of chicken.
- Add some smoked fish for an extra layer of flavor.
- Incorporate other vegetables like okra or spinach towards the end of cooking.