Recipe: African Peanut Stew with Quinoa

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Sometimes it's fun to take a little culinary adventure to some far-flung end of the globe. A flight to Africa easily takes a solid 24 hours, but this delicious stew takes less than 1 from start to finish - it's also a lot cheaper! 

I'm not saying this stew is a good substitute for traveling to Africa and experiencing some of what is a very beautiful continent with very many very rich cultures in person, but that's not always an option. Experiencing a little of the food culture in the comfort of your own kitchen is a good way to dip your toes into a little cross-cultural exploration!

Plus, it's delicious.

African Peanut Stew with Quinoa

Serves 6

* 2 c. butternut squash, peeled and diced

* Canola oil, to saute

* 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced

* 1 large red bell pepper, diced

* 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

* 3 cloves garlic, minced

* 3 tsp. fresh ginger, minched

* 1 tsp. turmeric

* 0,5 tsp. crushed coriander

* 0.5 tsp. ground cinnamon

* 1 can (14oz.) coconut milk

* 1 can (14oz.) fire roasted chopped tomatoes

* 1 c. vegetable broth

* 1 can (15.5oz) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

* 0.5 c. smooth natural peanut butter

* 1 bunch spinach, washed and shredded

* 1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped

* 1 c. white quinoa (dry), cooked according to package instructions

* 0.25 c. chopped peanuts

1. Bake the diced butternut squash in a preheated 400F oven until soft, about 20-25 minutes. It should begin to lightly caramelize.

2. Meanwhile, in a 5 quart dutch oven, sautee the onion, red bell pepper, and squash over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, until slightly golden. 

3. Add the jalapeno, garlic, ginger, turmeric, coriander, and cinnamon. Mix well and sautee for another minute.

4. Add the coconut milk, tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low.

5. Stir in the roasted butternut squash, the garbanzo beans, and the peanut butter. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.

6. Stir in the spinach and cilantro. 

Simmer for another 3-5 minutes, stirring regularly, until the spinach is cooked to as soft as you like it.

7. Turn off the stove and top with the cooked quinoa and chopped peanuts, in a roughly even layer over the whole pot. 

Enjoy!

How often do you try foods from different cultures?

Have you been to Africa? If so, where in Africa?