Meal #8 - Togo- Chicken Groundnut Soup

Tomatoes, onions, chickens and peanut butter; how does that sound for a food combination?  Those are the flavors I got to combine in making food from the west African country of Togo - a country of 6.7 million residents that relies mainly on an agricultural economy.

As a colonial state, Togo was divided between English and German control, before being transferred to France at the end of World War I. The cultural of Togo is influences by these colonial roots and the 37 ethnic groups living in the country - primarily the Ewe, Mina, and Kabre.

The cuisine of Togo is fairly traditional, with chicken and fish being the most important protein staples. Plantains and peanuts are both staples of the cuisine. My dish choice for the country is a chicken groundnut soup. I was leery going into the recipe seeing the combination of tomatoes, onion and peanut butter. However, the combination more than worked, and produced a pretty awesome hearty stew.

Recipe:

1 chicken, cut into serving pieces, browned by frying and seasoned 1 large onion, chopped 2 fresh tomatoes, finely chopped 1 small tin tomato paste 1 Maggi cube 240g peanut butter salt and pepper to taste 600ml water

Read more at Celtnet: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-chicken-groundnut-soup
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1 chicken, cut into serving pieces, browned by frying and seasoned 1 large onion, chopped 2 fresh tomatoes, finely chopped 1 small tin tomato paste 1 Maggi cube 240g peanut butter salt and pepper to taste 600ml water

Read more at Celtnet: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-chicken-groundnut-soup
Copyright © celtnet

1 chicken, cut into serving pieces, browned by frying and seasoned 1 large onion, chopped 2 fresh tomatoes, finely chopped 1 small tin tomato paste 1 Maggi cube 240g peanut butter salt and pepper to taste 600ml water

Read more at Celtnet: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-chicken-groundnut-soup
Copyright © celtnet1 chicken, cut into cubes, cooked throughout and browned

1 chicken cut into cubes and chunks, pan fried and browned
1 large onion chopped
2 tomatoes, finely chopped
1 small can tomato paste
1 maggi cube (chicken bullion)
240 gms. peanut butter
salt and pepper to taste
600 ml water

Method:

Add the onion and water to a saucepan then add the peanut butter and tomato paste. Cook on gently heat until the oil form the peanut butter starts to come to the surface of the sauce. Add the chicken and cook for five minutes before adding the tomatoes and seasoning. Stir over a gentle heat and cook for about 25 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.

Read more at Celtnet: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-chicken-groundnut-soup
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Add the water and onions to a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the peanut butter and tomato paste and heat on medium heat until the oil from the peanut butter separates and rises to the top. Add the chicken, cook for five minutes. Add tomatoes and seasoning. Cook covered on low heat for 25 minutes.

recipe from: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-chicken-groundnut-soup