
Smooth pounded cassava fufu paired with a rich groundnut soup — a Liberian staple.
Fufu with Peanut Soup is one of the most satisfying meals in Liberian cuisine. The fufu — made from fermented or fresh cassava pounded to an elastic dough — is torn into balls and dipped into a thick, nutty groundnut (peanut) soup enriched with chicken and tomato. The combination of starchy fufu and creamy, spiced soup is deeply nourishing.
Serves 4
Season chicken with salt and seasoning cube. Fry in a little oil until browned. Add onion, scotch bonnets, and blended tomato; cook 10 minutes.
Whisk peanut butter with 2 cups warm water until smooth, then pour into the pot. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
Cook over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until soup is thick and oil begins to float on top. Season to taste.
Prepare fufu according to packet instructions or pound fresh cassava. Serve soup hot in deep bowls alongside fufu balls.
Stir the peanut soup constantly in the first 10 minutes to prevent lumps.
Thin with extra water if the soup becomes too thick.
Use beef or smoked fish instead of chicken.
Add baby spinach in the last 5 minutes.
Soup keeps 3 days refrigerated. Make fufu fresh each time.
Groundnut soup is found across sub-Saharan Africa under various names (groundnut stew, maafe, nkate nkwan). In Liberia it is most commonly paired with cassava fufu, reflecting the country's strong cassava-farming tradition.
Smooth gives a silkier soup, but chunky works fine.
Per serving (450g / 15.9 oz) · 4 servings total
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