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...
spabettie / Kristina Sloggett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Heather @ kissmybroccoli says
This looks so good! I tried Mama Pea's recipe a few months ago and that was the first time I'd ever had this kind of soup.
I love pretty much any kind of soup, though I'm not a huge fan of purees. I like to have a little substance when I sit down to a bowl!
Love Raising Arizona! I haven't seen that movie in ages! My family and I pull out the "turn to your left" when we get to talking movie quotes!
spabettie says
haaaa!! we say turn to the left all the time! 🙂 it's such a great movie!!
I love soup, even purees... I can understand the need for "more" though - I have to have bread dippers at least!!
Nancy Coffin says
My two favorite things, African peanut stews and Raising Arizona!
Thanks for the recipe, there are similar ones in Sundays at Moosewood and I always loved them!
Raising Arizona: Name's Smalls. Leonard Smalls. My friends call me Lenny... only I ain't got no friends.
spabettie says
hi Nancy!! I hope you try this one, I kinda like it 🙂 and thanks for the quote - it's SO fun reading those commenters who shared them!! 😀
Christin@purplebirdblog says
I am ashamed to say I've never seen Raising Arizona despite all the wonderful things I've heard about it! And ooohhhhh my, that soup looks and sounds perfect!
spabettie says
GIRL !! go rent that movie!! 😀
(what runs) Lori says
Do you edit your photos? Photoshop? What's your secret? 😉
spabettie says
ha. you're going to love this one... I edit in iPhoto. so, basically nothing! Jason once downloaded me a trial for photoshop, but I was too intimidated to use it! 😀
(what runs) Lori says
What beautiful and colorful vibrant photos! I'm making this tonight! Sold.
spabettie says
oh GOOD ! you're going to love it!! please let me know how much! 😉
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Oh this looks and sounds really good!! I love the color of this soup!
spabettie says
thank you Alicia! I love vibrant and bright food! 🙂
Heather (Perspective Is Everything) says
Raising Arizona is one of my top 10 favorite movies of all time!!
Hubby and I love it so much.
My two favorite quotes are when the dad is being interviewed after the baby is stolen and the cops ask him to describe his pajamas...he says, "they have yodas and s*!t on 'em"
The other fave quote is "We got ourselves a family here!" Hubby and I always say that when we're always just sittin around content and admiring the kids and pets.
Anyway-fave soup is cashew carrot curry 🙂
spabettie says
Jason and I love it too, and quote it constantly! and ESPECIALLY THOSE TWO you mentioned!! we say the "family" one all the time!! 😀 I also say variations of "relaxing with the family unit" !!
Kath (My Funny Little Life) says
Okay, I knew it - this would be dangerous. Not for me, but rather for my laptop, because I'm drooling into my keyboard *again* as I type this. Would think I would ever drool so much over a vegan recipe???? And damn how do you make all your dishes look *that* good?! 😀
spabettie says
hee! I *LOVE* when people say that about what I make... then are SHOCKED when it's vegan! I guess it's fun to shock people with flavor! 😀
Kath (My Funny Little Life) says
Hahaha, yes! It's just that I never try to veganize or even vegetarianize any recipe on purpose. But, apart from my two servings of chicken / fish / seafood and the little butter I have every day, evering else I eat it absolutely vegan. 😉
spabettie says
baaaaa haaa... now THAT is funny! 😉
Kristina says
i've always loved tomato basil-and that's what this looked like so it caught my eye...I love jam packed flavorful soup that you don't mind it being your meal....total satisfaction! This looks amazing.
spabettie says
thanks, Kristina! ha... it DOES look like a tomato basil... which I LOVE too... YUM
Monique says
This sounds delicious! I'm trying to make soups/foods from different cultures this week. It's so fun 🙂
spabettie says
I saw that - what a fun project!