National Peanut Lover’s Day

Did you know that March 1 is National Peanut Lover’s Day? The legume, also classified as an oil crop, is also known as groundnut, goober, and even monkey nut!

Largely cultivated in many parts of the world (including here in Georgia), the peanut is a versatile crop that adds texture and aroma to many dishes and candy snacks. A famous variation of this is Peanut Butter, its invention often credited to George Washington Carver.

In many parts of Africa and Asia, Peanut Stew is a very popular soup. I put my spin on a recipe found here and attempted to make fufu alongside it. Beginning by toasting unsalted peanuts, I built flavors by sauteeing onions, ginger, garlic, and homegrown chili peppers in cumin and olive oil. I then created the soup base by adding crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, and peanut butter (works as a thickener and adds flavor). Next, I added the body, which included small diced sweet potato, chickpeas, and diced chicken. Lastly, when the chicken was cooked (165F Degrees) and sweet potato tender, I finished the soup by adding chopped kale until wilted. Fufu is a West African dough made from Cassava and green plantain flours. It is often eaten with soups, pulled apart by hand, and dipped.

This hearty stew is full of flavor and spice and definitely warms the soul on a chilly day. Personally, I love the nutty aroma, and my wife can attest how much I love adding toasted peanuts to dishes for extra texture! Happy National Peanut Lovers Day, and National Nutrition Month!