Slow-Simmered Peanut Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Spinach

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-21 · Updated 2026-06-21

A hearty West African-inspired vegetarian stew with creamy peanut butter, tender sweet potatoes, and vibrant spinach leaves simmered in a spiced tomato broth. This African-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs olive oil, yellow onion, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, diced yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp, grated ginger root
• 2 medium (about 1 lb), peeled and cubed sweet potatoes
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
• 4 cups fresh spinach leaves
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 large diced yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon grated ginger root, cooking for 1 minute until aromatic.
3. Step 3: Add 2 medium peeled and cubed sweet potatoes to the pot along with 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes and 3 cups vegetable broth. Stir in 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes.
4. Step 4: Bring the stew to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender.
5. Step 5: Whisk 1/2 cup natural peanut butter into the stew until fully incorporated, then add 4 cups fresh spinach leaves. Stir until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes.
6. Step 6: Season with salt and black pepper to taste and serve warm, ideally with steamed rice or flatbread.