• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Chipa by the Dozen
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

Home » Bolivian Peanut Soup

Bolivian Peanut Soup

August 24, 2018 by Lizet Flores de Bowen 28 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Peanut soup is a very special dish for Bolivians. Very easy to vary with different ingredients and full of flavor.

It is said that Che Guevara's last meal was a bowl of peanut soup made by a teacher named Ninfa Arteaga when he was a prisoner in La Higuera. Shortly after she brought him the soup, the shots were heard. A story that Bolivians like to tell an associate with Che.

Peanut soup is a very popular soup in Bolivia. With few ingredients but full of flavor. It is served for special occasions, birthdays, parties, or a Sunday meal.

In most Bolivian houses the main meal is served at noon. It starts with a soup or broth full of veggies, some meat or grains. Then comes the "segundo" (second, referring to the second plate) The segundo has to have rice. Bolivians love their rice. Rice with milanesas, rice with chicken, rice with stew, rice with spaghetti!

Maní crudo para sopa de maní

Now let's talk about the ingredients. As you can imagine, peanuts are the main ingredient for this soup. Raw peanuts are used, not toasted. In Bolivia, you get raw peanuts already peeled. If your only option is peanuts with skin, you can use that. You'll get a pinkish peanut soup, but the same flavor.

If you have more time, you can soak the peanuts in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and squeeze them between two towels. Rinse the peanuts in a big bowl, the skin should rise to the top.

maní crudo licuado para sopa de maní

The peanut mixture should be creamy. Blend for 2 to 3 minutes. Stick 2 (clean) fingers in there and rub them. If it's grainy, blend a few more minutes. Grainy peanut soup is not very safe. The little pieces scrape your throat, making you cough and kind of choke. We do not want a bad experience associated with this soup 😉.

Almost every Bolivian recipe starts with an ahogau, which is simply sauteed onions, garlic, and green peppers in a little bit of oil. To that base, I like to add some celery and parsley.

What other vegetables can you add to this peanut soup? chopped carrot, peas, a some chopped potatoes.

As I mentioned before, Bolivians love carbohydrates. Many times peanut soup has potatoes, noodles/rice, and is served with French fries and a piece of French baguette or boiled cassava.

presas de pollo para sopa de maní

For this recipe, I'm using chicken legs. Other options are whole chicken, cut into smaller pieces, chicken breast, or beef.

Whichever way you choose to make this Bolivian peanut soup, make sure to serve it with some llajua (spicy Bolivian sauce, recipe here), French fries, slices of French baguette or cassava. That first bite will take you right to Bolivia 🙂 .

Note: This recipe was published for the first time on August 6th, 2016 on my old blog. As we celebrate Bolivia’s independence in the month of August, I thought it was a good time to update my Bolivian recipes.

If you liked the recipe above, please consider rating the recipe and leaving a comment below! and share your picture on Instagram with the hashtag #chipabythedozen

More Bolivian recipes:

Cuñapé Frito (Receta Boliviana)

Pan de Arroz (Bolivian Gluten-Free Bread)

Majadito Batido de Pollo (Bolivian Chicken and Rice)

Sonso de Yuca Frito (Cheesy and Fluffy Bolivian Pancake)

Rollo de Queso Picante – Spicy Bolivian Bread

Baked Cuñapé (Bolivian Bread)

Llajua (Bolivian Spicy Sauce)

5 from 15 votes
Bolivian Peanut Soup
Print
Bolivian Peanut Soup
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
50 mins
 
Peanut soup is a very special dish for Bolivians. Very easy to vary with different ingredients and full of flavor.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Bolivian
Servings: 5 people
Calories: 630 kcal
Author: Lizet Bowen
Ingredients
  • 2 cups raw peanuts (313g)
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 10 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
  1. Soak peanuts for 5 minutes in a bowl with hot water. Drain.

  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Using the same pot, saute the onion, garlic, green peppers, and parsley for 3 minutes.
  5. 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!)
  6. Add salt, pepper, and oregano.
  7. After 20 minutes add chicken legs and cook for 15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.
Recipe Notes

Serve with french fries and llajua (hot sauce).

If you add peas and potatoes, add them together with the peanut mixture and carrots.

If you add pasta, add it 10 minutes before turning off the heat.

If you add rice, add it 15 minutes before turning off the heat.

If you want a lighter, no so thick soup, add more water or chicken broth.

I'm sharing this recipe at Fiesta Friday, hosted by Angie and her co-hosts this week are Mollie @ The Frugal Hausfrau and Mikaela @ Iris and Honey.

Bolivian Peanut Soup

Filed Under: Bolivian Recipes, Savory Dishes Tagged With: Bolivia, bolivian food, Bolivian recipes, peanuts

Previous Post: « Cuñapé Frito (Bolivian Cheesy Fried Donut)
Next Post: Bolivian Cheese Empanadas »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michell

    November 12, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    I love peanut sauce, so I think I would really love this peanut soup! I can't wait to give it a try!

    Reply
  2. Priya Lakshminarayan

    November 11, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    This is making me hungry! Love a good soup recipe

    Reply
  3. Jenn

    November 11, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    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!

    Reply
  4. Toni Dash

    November 11, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    This is such an amazing soup recipe! A delicious soup for my family!

    Reply
  5. Maria

    November 11, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    Been looking for another soup recipe then I found this, Thank you for a healthy and easy recipe, will try this <3

    Reply
  6. Caitlyn Erhardt

    November 13, 2019 at 2:37 am

    This sounds so comforting and delicious!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 13, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      Great for this winter 🙂

      Reply
  7. Bhawana

    November 13, 2019 at 1:40 am

    very creative peanut soup. I know peanut chutney but never thought about soup. Surely delicious looking soup.

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 13, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      I've never had peanut chutney. I need to try it 🙂

      Reply
  8. Isabelle @ Crumb

    November 12, 2019 at 4:00 am

    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!

    Reply
  9. Bob

    November 12, 2019 at 1:01 am

    Soup is always good and its that time of year up my way, nice recipe.

    Reply
  10. Jamie

    November 12, 2019 at 12:23 am

    This is so good on a rainy day like today! So creamy and full of delicious peanut flavor!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 12, 2019 at 2:09 pm

      😋 🥘

      Reply
  11. Alexandra

    November 10, 2019 at 8:17 pm

    So very excited to try this! I love peanuts and I know this will be a luscious and delicious soup!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 12, 2019 at 2:08 pm

      I hope you like it!

      Reply
  12. James Michael canoy

    November 06, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 06, 2019 at 6:08 pm

      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!

      Reply
  13. Eve Santiago

    October 19, 2019 at 8:35 pm

    Currently making for my nephew visiting from Bolivia (missionary kid) - can I make ahead of time?

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      October 20, 2019 at 11:23 am

      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!

      Reply
  14. Mary Caldejon

    September 05, 2019 at 12:10 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      September 05, 2019 at 6:38 pm

      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.

      Reply
  15. Jamie

    August 05, 2019 at 11:47 pm

    So creamy and delicious! Great recipe!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      August 06, 2019 at 12:55 am

      Thanks Jamie!

      Reply
  16. Angie | Fiesta Friday

    August 31, 2018 at 10:18 am

    What an intriguing recipe, Lizet. Definitely something worth a try!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      August 31, 2018 at 1:55 pm

      I hope you give it a try this winter Angie. It's delicious!

      Reply
  17. Mikaela

    August 24, 2018 at 5:55 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      August 27, 2018 at 11:47 pm

      Thank you Mikaela! I hope you give it a try 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

  • EspañolEspañol

Hello! I am Lizet. Welcome to my blog. This is a collection of the most beloved recipes between my family and friends. Some are my own creations and some are copycat from the many found on the internet, but with a twist using ingredients I can find in Paraguay. I hope you enjoy them! More..

Sign up to receive my latest recipes!

Kitchen Conversions

Download this free Kitchen Conversions PDF.


Thank you!

Thanks for downloading our free Kitchen Conversions PDF!


Popular recipes

Pepperkaker (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)

Pepperkaker (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)

aniseseed & guava thumbprint cookies

Anise Seed & Guava Thumbprint Cookies

Chocolate dulce de leche empanadas (cookies)

Chocolate Dulce de Leche Empanadas (Cookies)

Food Advent Calendar - "Spice It Up!"

Food Advent Calendar - "Spice It Up!"

Lemon-cardamom white chocolate cookies

Lemon-Cardamom White Chocolate Cookies

See More;

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Injera (Ethiopian Flatbread)
  • Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Appetizer
  • Easy Black Bean Soup

Copyright © 2021 CHIPA BY THE DOZEN