A bowl of this rich and flavorful vegan spicy peanut soup is pure comfort food. Make it your own with variations on ingredients and toppings.
recipe originally published July 1, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS - Jump to any section:
- How to make peanut soup
- Protein additions for this soup
- Garnishes to add! Endless options
- How long does this soup last?
- More vegan soup
- Vegan Peanut Soup Recipe
How to make peanut soup
One of our ultimate comfort food cravings is a big bowl of spicy peanut soup. This recipe brings layers of incredible flavor, with so many different ingredient variations, protein options, and topping ideas.
If you are looking for an easy assembly recipe that makes your kitchen smell delicious while it simmers, this vegan peanut soup is the one! The ingredient list is approachable, with mostly easy to find pantry ingredients (jackfruit and soy curls might not be available at many stores, but beans are a great sub for those). The key ingredients are:
- Peanut butter - the delicious rich flavor of this soup is partially due to peanut butter. You can also use almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for a similar deliciousness and to bring added protein and antioxidants.
- Peanut butter powders - for years, my readers have been subbing some or all of the peanut butter for a lower calorie option of peanut butter powder! An easy calorie saving hack.
- Fire roasted diced tomatoes - High in vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants, tomatoes are essential to the flavor of this peanut soup recipe. I love the fire roasted diced ones for flavor and efficiency.
- Fresh Gingers - I often add fresh ginger in this soup (usually instead of the curry). Ginger brings another spicy layer of flavor that is just so good.
Ingredient variations
While I have been making this soup for so long, I can do so without the recipe. I have made variations of peanut soup based on what ingredients we have on hand.
Examples of recipe variations include peanut butter powder in place of some or all of the peanut butter, for a lower calorie option. Jackfruit is one of my favorite ingredients for that "shredded chicken" result, but it lacks the protein.
My favorite add-ins to increase protein are:
- soy curls
- beans
- spinach
The video makes this recipe with soy curls, while the process images above make this recipe with shredded jackfruit.
How to serve this soup
I serve this in a bowl as you normally would with soup. Sometimes I ladle it over a bowl of rice or quinoa, or even cauliflower rice. Serve with a crisp cool salad and a crusty warm baguette.
I love to pour peanut soup over a baked sweet potato!
We have a few favorite toppings for vegan peanut soup.
- sliced avocado
- fresh sliced jalapeño
- chopped peanuts
- lime wedges
- chopped parsley or cilantro
Meal Prep this soup! How long does it last?
My general guide for freshness is 3-4 days, and we try to finish this spicy peanut soup within that time frame. Between lunches and dinners, this won’t last too long anyway – you will be missing this soup once it is gone.
If you want to meal prep ahead or are planning meals for several people, make a double batch. Cool completely, and then transfer stew to freezer bags or freezer safe glass containers.
More vegan soup recipes
- Delicata Squash Soup: Dairy free has never tasted as scrumptious as this garlicky lemony goodness. This nutrient rich bowl of comfort will keep you warm and cozy.
- Instant Kimchi Noodle Soup: Fragrant and flavorful, this ten minute method will have you lifting noodles in no time! Bonus: learn how to make kimchi, easily!
- Roasted Mushroom Bisque: When you need some warming to the core, spoon up a big bowl of this rich and hearty shiitake mushroom soup.
Did You Make This Spicy Vegan Peanut Soup?
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Vegan Peanut Soup
this rich and flavorful soup is pure comfort food. make it your own with variations on ingredients and toppings.
Ingredients
- 1 (20 ounce) can jackfruit, drained *see notes for more options
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or broth for oil free)
- 1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 3-4 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 inch fresh ginger (about 2 tablespoons), peeled and minced
- 2-4 teaspoons red pepper flakes **see notes about heat level
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- ½ cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Drain jack fruit, place in large bowl. Using two forks, shred jack fruit into smaller pieces (or chop with knife). Set aside.
- (Alternatively, if using soy curls: break up larger pieces, place soy curls in a bowl. Add enough hot water to cover, set aside to rehydrate while you slice onion, garlic, ginger.)
- In stockpot / Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is soft and translucent.
- Add shredded jackfruit, minced ginger, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Continue to sauté for several minutes.
- Add broth, tomato paste, tomatoes, and peanut butter, stirring to combine completely. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with rice, cauliflower rice, quinoa, crusty French bread, or salad.
Notes
*instead of jackfruit: ½ bag rehydrated soy curls, or 2 cups chickpeas / beans
**adjust to your heat preference – you can always add, you can’t take away
Ingredient variations
While I have been making this soup for so long, I can do so without the recipe. I have made variations of peanut soup based on what ingredients we have on hand.Â
Examples of recipe variations include peanut butter powder in place of some or all of the peanut butter, for a lower calorie option. Jackfruit is one of my favorite ingredients for that "shredded chicken" result, but it lacks the protein.
My favorite add-ins to increase protein are:
- soy curls
- beans
- spinach
How to serve this soup
I serve this in a bowl as you normally would with soup. Sometimes I ladle it over a bowl of rice or quinoa, or even cauliflower rice. Serve with a crisp cool salad and a crusty warm baguette.
I love to pour peanut soup over a baked sweet potato!
We have a few favorite toppings for vegan peanut soup.Â
- sliced avocado
- fresh sliced jalapeño
- chopped peanuts
- lime wedges
- chopped parsley or cilantro
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 455mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 5gSugar: 12gProtein: 7g
nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.
about Kristina:
Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food! Read more...
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sophia says
Okay, I actually have this recipe bookmarked in my recipe folder for more than a year...and have yet to make it!! I was always so intrigued that there's peanut in the soup.
spabettie says
ha!! it's a sign, Sophia!! you need to try it!! 😀
dave says
recipe looks great, i love all varieties of african food, especially the spicy soups and stews, but mostly i am sad to see how few raising arizona quotes people have come up with. i actually did an animation project in college where i had to animate over pre-existing dialogue, and i used the following scene from raising arizona (one of the best bank heist scenes of all time):
"alright ya hayseeds, its a stick up!"
"everybody freeze... everybody get down on the ground!"
"well, which is it young feller? you want i should freeze or get down on the ground? mean to say, if'n i freeze i can't rightly drop, and if'n i drop, i'ma gonna be in motion. ya see..."
"shut up!"
spabettie says
Dave, you have just made Spabettie Reader of the Day - !! we say that last line all the time around here, love it!! I would have LOVED to see your animation project!!
dave says
reader of the day?! sweet! actually just the other day i had your original quote running through my head, but all the way through to the car when john goodman also asks if they blow up into funny shapes: nah, just circular. i always thought it was a hilarious touch to make them such balloon snobs, but just stupid enough to refer to the shape of a balloon as "circular" rather than spherical, or simply just round.
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says
I don't know what "Raising Arizona" is... tv, movie?
That sounds SO good. They had a vegan african peanut soup at Sip outside of the co-op Ryan and I went to the other day. Sounded amazing then and it still does!
By the by, I'm inviting (via call out on my blog) Portland readers/bloggers to get together this Saturday. Wanna?
spabettie says
oh, my. you need to see this movie. 😉 (okay, I don't know if you NEED to... I don't know your movie taste!) 🙂 it's a Coen Brothers movie... older... funny.
I'm glad you asked - I've been thinking we need to plan something soon, I wanted to give you guys time to settle! this Sat may not work for me, though, I think I'm already OVER booked - BOO
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty says
Well it's a bit different, but this is mine http://www.ourbigearth.com/2010/09/15/dairy-free-betty-warming-moroccan-stew/
It's SO good!!
spabettie says
a different spin - this looks good (except for the cilantro for me!) 😀 thanks for sharing!
Mary (A Merry Life) says
This makes me happy. I LOVE that movie!
The soup looks delicious. Hopefully I'll get around to making it soon.
spabettie says
right?? it's a Coen Classic. 🙂 and YES to the soup - I hope you do too, it's very good!
Biz says
I love that soup - I've made it before, typically for my lunches because usually my husband and daughter say "what smells like ass?" when I make it! Nevermind them - just more for me!
spabettie says
oh no!! mine always has my kitchen smelling GREAT ! 🙂 but yeah, more for you!!
Amy B @ Second City Randomness says
I'm a fan of most tomato-based soups. They're just so freakin' comforting... mmmm
spabettie says
they are... good for cheesy bread dippin' too!
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit says
My favorite soup... hmmm I think I'd have to say... french onion! Gosh, I should make myself that for dinner. Little bit of Daiya cheese on there... delicious! This soup looks fabulous!
spabettie says
I love a good French onion soup... oh yum!
janetha @ meals and moves says
Mama Pea has a recipe for a similar soup that I made once and LOVED.. I actually hae it in my freezer and totally forgot, so thanks for the reminder. Your photos are great and the soup sounds so flavorful.
Favorite soup? That's hard. A really chunky tomato or a really veggie-filled minestrone.
spabettie says
I LOVE when I find a frozen soup... so easy! 😀 I'll have to go find Mama Pea's, I'm sure hers is delicious!
Holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
I haven't seen that movie in years -- and I don't know if I have seen the whole thing to be honest.
This soup looks delicious! You can't go wrong with a recipe that calls for 1 cup peanut butter!
spabettie says
INDEED ! 😀