African Soup

African Sweet Potato Soup with Peanut Butter and Black Beans
Serves 4-5, adapted from Gluten-Free Goddess

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Thai red curry paste
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 medium red onion, peeled and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 large yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced very finely
1/2 lb dried black beans, soaked overnight and cooked until tender
1 quart veggie broth
1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter (or sunbutter for those allergic!)
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1 lime
3 tsp brown sugar
salt and black pepper, to taste

1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot. Add the curry paste and cinnamon. Stir for a minute so that the olive oil gets infused with spice. Add the onion, garlic, sweet potato, bell pepper, and jalapeno. Stir and cook the veggies for 5-7 minutes, until softened.

2. Add the beans and broth. Melt the peanut butter by mixing it with 1/2 cup boiling water. Add that to the mix. Add the red pepper flakes and cilantro.

3. Bring the soup to a boil, then cover and simmer. Cook until veggies are tender, about 25 minutes.

4. Stir in the lime juice and brown sugar. Season with salt and black pepper.