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    Urban Bliss Life » Blog » Pressure Cooker Vegan African Peanut Stew Recipe (Instant Pot,Ninja Foodi, Slow Cooker)

    Published: September 10, 2021 / Updated: September 15, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Pressure Cooker Vegan African Peanut Stew Recipe (Instant Pot,Ninja Foodi, Slow Cooker)

    80 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Looking for a hearty vegan dish? This Vegan Instant Pot African Peanut Stew is a rich, flavorful recipe that can be made in under 30 minutes. Serve it over rice or naan bread for a delicious, healthy, soul-satisfying meal!

    closeup of Ninja Foodi African Peanut Stew IAfrican Peanut Stew topped with chopped peanuts and parsley, on a bed of rice.

    The first time I had African Peanut Stew was from my local New Seasons Market. I had just recently become dairy-free, and was craving some comforting soup.

    It was AMAZING.

    I fell in love with all of the flavors immediately. And I knew I had to recreate this dish at home so I could have it all the time!

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 What is African Peanut Stew?
    • 🥜 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • 🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
    • 🍷 Wine pairing for African Peanut Stew
    • 🥣 More soup recipes
    • Vegan African Peanut Stew
    • Pin it:

    🥘 What is African Peanut Stew?

    Instant Pot African Peanut Stew topped with chopped peanuts and parsley, on a bed of rice with a fork and bowl of extra peanuts.

    This recipe is inspired by a West African dish that is known as peanut stew or sometimes called groundnut stew. It's also known as maafe. It is said to have originated in Mali, with the Mandinka and Bambarara people. In Gambia, the national dish is a groundnut stew known as domoda.

    And like most dishes, the ingredients and the way it is made has evolved over time - and continents. Versions of this dish are also popular in France and Cameroon. And I am so glad it made its way across the globe, so we could all enjoy this rich, comforting dish!

    🥜 Ingredient notes

    While some more traditional peanut stews and soups contain lamb, chicken, or beef, I prefer this Instant Pot African Peanut Stew without any meat. You can certainly brown some meat as the base and then add it back to the last part of cooking if you like.

    individual ingredients to make Instant Pot African Peanut Stew, all on a bright blue table.

    Peanut butter - The star of the dish! Use unsalted, creamy peanut butter for the best results.

    Sweet potatoes - Peeled and chopped into 1" chunks. You can also save time by buying fresh, pre-chopped sweet potatoes. Or, frozen, pre-chopped sweet potatoes. Just be sure to thaw them to room temperature before cooking with them.

    Spinach - You can use fresh or frozen spinach. If using frozen, be sure to thaw it to room temperature and drain out excess water before measuring and cooking with it.

    Onions - I use yellow onions, but you can also use white onions. I would not use red onions in this dish as it would alter the flavor.

    Garlic - the recipe calls for four cloves, but you can reduce that to 2 to 3 if you prefer.

    Ginger - I really love the extra aromatics and flavor that ginger adds to this stew. You can reduce the amount to one tablespoon if you prefer.

    Diced tomatoes - Use petite diced tomatoes. Try to avoid using any flavored canned tomatoes, like fire roasted tomatoes, as that will alter the final flavor of the dish.

    Cilantro - you can substitute parsley if you must, but I highly recommend sticking with cilantro.

    Tomato paste - tomato paste adds a nice depth of flavor to the stew.

    Vegetable broth - make your own or use store-bought vegetable broth. If you are making this with meat, you can also use chicken or beef broth for added flavor.

    Dry white wine - I use a dry Pinot Gris or unoaked Chardonnay for this dish. You could also substitute additional vegetable broth in place of wine.

    Peanuts - Sprinkling chopped peanuts on top of each serving really helps tie all of the flavors of this dish together.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. In the recipe card, I've included instructions for how to make this stew in:

    • Ninja Foodi
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker

    Here are some step-by-step instructions to help guide you as you make this dish in an electric pressure cooker:



    • Select Sear/Sauté, set temperature to HI, select Start/Stop to begin, Preheat for 2 minutes.
    • Heat oil then sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger for about 2 minutes, just until they are soft and fragrant.
    • Stir in the curry powder, paprika, salt, and pepper just until the vegetables are coated with the spices. Select Start/Stop to end the Sauté function.
    • Pour in the wine and scrape up any brown bits at the bottom of the inner pot.
    • Pour in the vegetable broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, and peanut butter. Stir to combine. Add in the sweet potatoes.
    • Assemble the pressure lid, ensuring the pressure release valve is in the Seal position.
    • Select Pressure Cook, set temperature to HI and set time to 3 minutes. Select Start/Stop to begin pressure cooking.
    • When done cooking, carefully move the pressure release valve to Vent position to quick release.
    • Stir in spinach until wilted.
    closeup of Ninja Foodi African Peanut Stew
    • Plate and garnish with chopped cilantro and peanuts.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    How long can you keep leftovers?

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Can I freeze this stew?

    Yes! Store in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to two months.

    What's the difference between stew and soup?

    The main difference is in the amount of liquid used to make the dish. Stews tend to be heartier, with larger chunks of meats and vegetables. Whereas soups tend to have a lot more liquid compared to the solids in the dish.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    Instant Pot African Peanut Stew topped with chopped peanuts and parsley, on a bed of rice with a side of peanuts on a blue table.

    Serve this stew over rice and/or a big plate of naan bread.

    I love serving it with Instant Pot Garlic Rice for the first night. Then I enjoy leftovers the next day heated up with naan, which is great to soak up all of those delicious flavors. Or make some homemade French bread to soak up the yummy stew!

    🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

    The beauty of this dish is that it can be made in a few different ways. If you're in a rush, you can whip up big flavors in your Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot.

    If you have some time in the morning, you can pull together the ingredients for this stew and slow cook it all day. Then it's a warm, comforting dish waiting for you at the end of the work day.

    I tend to make this in my Ninja Foodi XL Deluxe 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker because that's what I use on most days. Instructions for each method are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

    🍷 Wine pairing for African Peanut Stew

    Mateus Rosé wine glass and bottle behind it.

    Serve this Instant Pot African Peanut Stew with:

    • a dry rosé
    • Pinot Noir
    • Gamay

    If you're not sure where to start, I have a list of my favorite Rosé wines and favorite Pinot Noir wines.

    🥣 More soup recipes

    You must use the category name, not a URL, in the category field.

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    african peanut stew in a white bowl.

    Vegan African Peanut Stew

    5 from 9 votes
    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    Hearty, comforting, and soul-satisfying stew.
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 402kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion diced
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 tablespoons ginger minced
    • 1 tablespoon curry powder
    • ½ tsp smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¼ cup dry white wine
    • 4 cups vegetable broth 2 cans
    • 2 cups sweet potatoes – cubed into 1 inch pieces
    • 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
    • 6 ounces tomato paste
    • ¾ cup unsalted creamy peanut butter
    • 2 cups baby spinach or kale chopped
    • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro for garnish
    • ½ cup coarsely chopped peanuts

    Instructions

    NINJA FOODI INSTRUCTIONS

    • Select Sear/Sauté, set temperature to HI, select Start/Stop to begin, Preheat for 2 minutes.
    • Heat oil then sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger for about 2 minutes, just until they are soft and fragrant.
    • Stir in the curry powder, paprika, salt, and pepper just until the vegetables are coated with the spices. Select Start/Stop to end the Sauté function.
    • Pour in the wine and scrape up any brown bits at the bottom of the inner pot.
    • Pour in the vegetable broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, and peanut butter. Stir to combine. Add in the sweet potatoes.
    • Assemble the pressure lid, ensuring the pressure release valve is in the Seal position.
    • Select Pressure Cook, set temperature to HI and set time to 3 minutes. Select Start/Stop to begin pressure cooking.
    • When done cooking, carefully move the pressure release valve to Vent position to quick release.
    • Stir in spinach until wilted.
    • Plate and garnish with chopped cilantro and peanuts.

    INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS

    • Select Sauté, set temperature to HI, Preheat for 2 minutes.
    • Heat oil then sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger for about 2 minutes, just until they are soft and fragrant.
    • Stir in the curry powder, paprika, salt, and pepper just until the vegetables are coated with the spices. Select Start/Stop to end the Sauté function.
    • Pour in the wine and scrape up any brown bits at the bottom of the inner pot.
    • Pour in the vegetable broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, and peanut butter. Stir to combine. Add in the sweet potatoes.
    • Assemble the pressure lid, ensuring the pressure release valve is in the Seal position.
    • Select Pressure Cook/Manual, set temperature to HI, and set time to 3 minutes.
    • When done cooking, carefully move the pressure release valve to Vent position to quick release.
    • Stir in spinach until wilted.
    • Plate and garnish with chopped cilantro and peanuts.

    SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS

    • Add all ingredients except for the peanut butter and spinach/kale on low for 4 to 6 hours. When done cooking, stir in the peanut butter and spinach/kale until the greens are wilted. Serve immediately garnished with cilantro and chopped peanuts

    Notes

    Reheating: The best way to reheat this stew is in a medium saucepan on the stovetop. Simply warm it up uncovered on low heat for a few minutes.
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1451mg | Potassium: 887mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 8168IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

    Pin it:

    instant pot african peanut stew with text overlay
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Rose-Marie says

        September 16, 2024 at 8:22 pm

        5 stars
        The instructions were very easy to follow. My husband loved it. I followed the directions but left out the cilantro, ugh!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          September 23, 2024 at 9:13 am

          5 stars
          So glad you loved it!

      2. Angela says

        March 23, 2022 at 12:54 pm

        5 stars
        Love this stew! The peanut flavors are amazing and pair perfectly with the veggies. Don't even miss the meat! Thanks for the great recipe!

        Reply
      3. Tavo says

        September 10, 2021 at 1:11 pm

        5 stars
        Sounds delicious! I am definitely trying it!

        Reply
      4. Emily says

        September 10, 2021 at 1:07 pm

        5 stars
        This African peanut stew is so delicious! The whole family loved it and we enjoyed it with naan. Can't wait to make it again soon!

        Reply
      5. Dannii says

        September 10, 2021 at 11:18 am

        5 stars
        Now this is my kind of comfort food. A great way to eat more greens too

        Reply
        • Bronwen says

          March 09, 2024 at 11:01 am

          This didn't work with pressure cooking, it asked me to add more water and when I added enough it just wouldn't stop pre-cooking and move to cooking. So I'm trying the slow cooker method instead, although the peanut butter is already in of course so I hope that will be OK.

      6. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

        September 10, 2021 at 10:56 am

        5 stars
        This was such hit! Thank you for this awesome recipe

        Reply
      5 from 9 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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