(updated recipe)
Bolivian peanut soup is made with blended raw peanuts, vegetables, and your favorite protein. It's served with homemade fries and accompanied by slices of French bread.
This light broth is very versatile, although the main ingredient is peanuts, you can vary the vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates depending on what you have on hand.
You can serve it as a first course or a main course if you add extra ingredients like more rice or noodles.
Bolivian Peanut Soup
Peanut soup is a very popular soup throughout Bolivia. In recent years, it has been named one of the country's flag dishes.
Although the origin of this recipe is unknown, it is said that the peanut comes from Bolivia, since it was grown in South America before the arrival of the conquerors.
Like every dish or recipe, within the country itself, there are variations according to the climate and terrain of the cities.
In some areas, it is served with rice, cassava, and plantains. In the valley, they add little red chilis and they use goat or beef, and potatoes.
In the highlands, it is usually served with lamb meat and French fries.
Our Recipe
This recipe is based on how I remember peanut soup tasted like when I used to order it at the restaurant on Sundays when my family went out to eat.
It is a light soup. With some vegetables, small pieces of chicken, and of course, homemade fries.
I say light because for an adult or teenager this will not be enough to satisfy them if made as a main dish.
After eating this peanut soup, serve this segundo ( second plate, as it is called in Bolivia) majadito (Bolivian Chicken and Rice).
Ingredients for Bolivian Peanut Soup
- Peanuts: As you can imagine, peanuts are the main ingredient in this soup. Raw peanuts are used, not roasted. In Bolivia, raw peanuts are already peeled. If your only option is peanuts with skin or the red shell, you can use that. The only difference is that your broth will come out kind of pink but the flavor will be the same.
- Onion: Red onions are the most common in Bolivia.
- Garlic
- Green peppers
- Fresh parsley
- Chicken: you can use chicken breast, thigh, leg, or the whole chicken
- Carrots
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Dried oregano
How to make it:
Peanuts should be blended well. It should be creamy and without lumps.
To make sure that the mixture is creamy, you should scoop a little bit into a spoon, and rub it between the tip of your fingers. If it feels gritty, you need to continue blending.
If the peanuts are not blended well, when you eat the soup it seems that those bits get stuck in your throat and make you cough and almost choke. We don't want a bad experience associated with this soup 😉
Once the peanuts are blended, continue sealing the chicken and then sautéing the vegetables.
Almost every Bolivian meal starts with an ahogau, which is simply red onion, garlic, and green peppers sauteed with a drizzle of oil.
To this the peanut mixture is added, water or chicken broth, and vegetables that need to cook longer like carrots.
Peanuts need to cook for a long time which helps to thicken the soup.
After about 20 minutes, add the chicken and other vegetables that take less time to cook, such as peas, and potatoes.
Peanut Soup Variations
Some ingredients that you can add to this soup, either to make it more succulent and you can serve it as the main course, or to use what you have in your fridge or pantry: (In the recipe card mention the quantities.)
- Rice or macaroni noodles: it can be added with the chicken
- Celery: cook together with the onion
- Peas: if they are fresh, add them along with the chicken. If they are canned, drain them add them about 3 minutes before turning off the soup.
- Chicken breast: cook with water for 20 minutes. Remove from the water and shred. Use the broth for the soup.
- Whole chicken: A whole chicken would be a lot for this recipe that serves 6 people, but if you double the recipe, it would be enough. Cut it into smaller pieces, and follow the steps from the recipe card.
- Beef: depending on the cut, if it is a tender cut of meat, you can use this recipe. If it is a cut that needs more cooking, increase it for 20 more minutes and about 500 ml of water or broth.
How to Serve Peanut Soup
Bolivians love carbohydrates. Many times this peanut soup has potatoes, noodles/rice, and is served with homemade fries and a piece of bread or boiled cassava. So you have several options.
However you prepare this soup, serve it with llajua (Bolivian hot sauce and you have the recipe here). The first bite will take you directly to Bolivia.
Note about peanuts for this soup
To peel the peanuts, they must be soaked in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and place them between two kitchen towels. With both hands, press and rub until the skin is separated. Rinse and separate the skin from the peanuts before blending.
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Note: This recipe was first published on August 6th, 2016
Bolivian Peanut Soup
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons raw peanuts (52g)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 6 chicken legs
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 4 tablespoons parsley, minced
- 12 cups of water or chicken broth (3 liters)
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
Serve with french fries, llajua (spicy sauce), French baguette
Instructions
- Soak peanuts for 5 minutes in a bowl with hot water. Drain.
- Blend half of the peanuts with 2 cups of water for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth. Repeat the same step with the other half.
- In a large pot, heat the oil and seal chicken over high heat. Remove from the pot and keep aside while preparing the rest of the food.
- Using the same pot, saute the onion, garlic, green peppers, and parsley for 3 minutes.
- Add the peanut mixture, the rest of the water or chicken broth and the carrots. Once it boils, cook for 20 minutes on low heat; stir every 5 minutes (the broth usually rises, as when heating milk, and overflows the pan ... keep an eye on it!)
- Add salt, pepper, and oregano.
- After 20 minutes add chicken legs and cook for 15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.
Video
Notes
Karen
So good! This reminds me of the soup my favorite restaurant used to serve. So glad I can make it at home now! Excellent flavor and texture - will make again!
Bernice
Such a tasty and comforting soup. My husband is nuts for anything peanut.
Jamie
I love how savory and satisfying this soup is. Love the flavors too!
Jere Cassidy
This soup is new to me and sounds delicious. I love reading about cultural food to see what I am missing out on.
Cati
I think the term you are looking for the basis for what veggies to sauté first is “augado” or “auhagado” if you prefer. Thank you for receta. It mirrors almost exactly what I am used to as a cochabambina.
Giangi Townsend
I love soup, My husband loves peanuts. I will definitely give this recipe a try.
Serena
Always love a good soup recipe!
Michell
I love peanut sauce, so I think I would really love this peanut soup! I can't wait to give it a try!
Priya Lakshminarayan
This is making me hungry! Love a good soup recipe
G.o
I'm from Cbba. So I know this, too! Thanks for the recipe in English dear 😊 so I can share to friends in Europe and do it by myself (I've always bought it never cooked it 😅) a lot of hugs to the distance!
Lizet
I find that people love the flavors of our peanut soup. Please, share the recipe with your friends 🙂
Jenn
This is an outstanding soup. I am a soup fan and am always looking for new ones to try and this caught my eye. It is a hearty bowl of deliciousness that I'll be making again!
Toni Dash
This is such an amazing soup recipe! A delicious soup for my family!
Maria
Been looking for another soup recipe then I found this, Thank you for a healthy and easy recipe, will try this <3
Caitlyn Erhardt
This sounds so comforting and delicious!
Lizet Flores de Bowen
Great for this winter 🙂
Bhawana
very creative peanut soup. I know peanut chutney but never thought about soup. Surely delicious looking soup.
Lizet Flores de Bowen
I've never had peanut chutney. I need to try it 🙂
Isabelle @ Crumb
I've never heard of peanut soup until now, but I have yet to meet a savoury peanut dish that I didn't love. Now I just need to track down some shelled raw peanuts so I can try it out. Can't wait!
Bob
Soup is always good and its that time of year up my way, nice recipe.
Jamie
This is so good on a rainy day like today! So creamy and full of delicious peanut flavor!
Lizet Flores de Bowen
😋 🥘
Alexandra
So very excited to try this! I love peanuts and I know this will be a luscious and delicious soup!
Lizet Flores de Bowen
I hope you like it!
James Michael canoy
I’ve been looking all over for a good peanut soup recipe. I lived in Bolivia for 6 years and this was far and away my favorite food from there. I’ll give this a try and I’m hopeful.
Lizet Flores de Bowen
Hi James! I think peanut soup is amazing and everybody loves it. My soup is a little bit thicker than the ones in Bolivia, if you don't like it like that, add less peanuts! very simple. I hope you like it!
Eve Santiago
Currently making for my nephew visiting from Bolivia (missionary kid) - can I make ahead of time?
Lizet Flores de Bowen
Yes! You can make it ahead of time. It might get thick once it gets cold. Add more broth or water when you heat it up. Enjoy your soup!
Mary Caldejon
I'm in the process of making this soup for rehearsal dinner (Bride is from Bolivia)....at the final stages of cooking, do you remove the meat from the chicken bone and slice up into bite size pieces? Thanks!
Lizet Flores de Bowen
Oh! this is going to be so special for her ❤️
Usually, this is served with the bone. But, it is a little bit more work to cut it in a soup bowl. If you have time, go ahead and take it out of the bone.
Remember that as the soup cools, it thickens. So, you might want to add extra broth or water.
Let me know how people, and the bride, liked it.
Kudos to you for making this special meal for her.
Jamie
So creamy and delicious! Great recipe!
Lizet Flores de Bowen
Thanks Jamie!
Angie | Fiesta Friday
What an intriguing recipe, Lizet. Definitely something worth a try!
Lizet Flores de Bowen
I hope you give it a try this winter Angie. It's delicious!
Mikaela
I love the care you took explaining each step of the recipe. I've never had peanut soup before but I definitely want to try this. Thank you for sharing with Fiesta Friday!
Lizet Flores de Bowen
Thank you Mikaela! I hope you give it a try 🙂