One of the traditional African American recipes is a peanut soup, which is popular in West Africa. It is not only healthy but also tasty and quite spicy, which is optimal for the people who like spicy dishes, which are frequently not good for health (“African peanut soup,” 2020). Therefore, the soup representing the culture reflects the typical ingredients used in the region and is easy and fast to cook.
The African peanut soup comes from West African cuisine, and its popularity is explained by the foods available in Gambia and Ghana. They include chiles, ground peanuts, and meat tomatoes, which contribute to the rich taste of this dish (“African peanut soup,” 2020). Even though these ingredients are not particularly common in the United States, the soup is still popular among the representatives of this cultural group.
The uniqueness of the African peanut soup is explained by the use of only fresh products. If one adds peanut butter with emulsifiers, such as palm oil, the dish is not as tasty as it is meant to be (“African peanut soup,” 2020). Hence, the main characteristic of this recipe, which distinguishes it from other soups cooked in the United States, is the necessity to use only fresh products for it. As for the similarities, they are connected to the relative simplicity of the cooking process and the use of tomatoes, chicken, and potatoes.
To summarize, the African peanut soup is an example of a recipe reflecting the culture of the region of origin. It shows the preferences in products of the people alongside their desire to simplify the cooking process. In turn, when comparing it with soups from other popular cuisines, this dish is a more healthy alternative considering the use of fresh products instead of the ones people can buy in supermarkets.
Reference
African peanut soup. (2020). The Modern Proper. Web.
