Ghanaian Nkatenkwan

Ghanaian Nkatenkwan

SpiceBreeze
This Ghanaian dish, called Nkatenkwan or groundnut soup, is popular throughout West Africa. It is typically a creamy chicken-peanut-soup. With our variations, the soup can be modified to your taste. Add a finish of grains of paradise (included). They are native to West Africa, mainly from Ghana, and a mild but pungent alternative to black pepper.
hands-on time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Ghanaian
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Protein

  • 2 lbs chicken drumsticks

Fresh Produce

  • 2 cups okra
  • 2 medium tomato/es quartered
  • 1 large onion quartered
  • 1 inch ginger chopped

Packaged Goods/Staples

  • 5-6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • salt & pepper

Suggested Sides

  • fresh bread
  • rice
  • sweet potatoes
  • yam

Culinary Spice Kit

  • [1] Rosemary, bay leaves
  • [2] Grains of paradise whole

Instructions
 

  • In a large POT, add 3 cups of broth, onion, ginger, tomatoes, okra, drumsticks, salt & pepper to taste, and Nkatenkwan [1] spices.
  • Bring to boil. Cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
  • Turn heat off. Take drumsticks out and set aside.
  • Transfer soup to a FOOD PROCESSOR and blend until smooth. Set aside.
  • In the same POT, heat 2 cups of broth. Add peanut butter and dissolve in the broth over low heat, stirring constantly.
  • Add blended soup and drumsticks. Mix well.
  • Optionally, add more broth for a thinner soup.
  • Cook soup over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
  • On the plated soup, sprinkle Nkatenkwan [2] spices to taste from a grinder or whole.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Substitute drumsticks with 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into pieces, or beef stew. Adjust cooking time and add more broth if necessary.
  • Substitute okra with green beans, kale, or cabbage.
  • Substitute peanut butter with other nut butter.
  • For a clear soup, skip the peanut butter and step 4.
  • Without food processor: chop onion and grate ginger. In step 3, transfer everything to a BOWL. Skip step 4. In step 6, return everything to the POT.