Spicy West African Peanut Stew with Sweet Potatoes
A hearty, creamy peanut stew featuring tender sweet potatoes and a rich, spiced tomato base, inspired by West African flavors. This African recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 50 minutes, pairs sweet potatoes, onion, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 360 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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 medium, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes sweet potatoes
- 1 large, diced onion
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp fresh, grated ginger
- 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped, for garnish fresh cilantro
- 4, for serving lime wedges
The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 large diced onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger, cooking for 1 minute until aromatic.
- Step 3: Add 2 peeled and diced medium sweet potatoes, 14 oz crushed tomatoes, 3 cups vegetable broth, 1/2 cup natural peanut butter, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Step 4: Bring stew to a simmer, cover, and cook for 25-30 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender and stew has thickened slightly.
- Step 5: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the stew.








