Also called maafe, peanut soup is a staple within West African cuisine and is also eaten across East Asia and the US. Bolivia has its own version of peanut soup that does not use coconut milk. Outside of America, peanuts are mostly called groundnuts. Peanuts are not native to Africa (they originated in South America) but the place of origin of peanut soup is still believed to be West Africa. Portuguese and Spanish colonial settlers brought peanuts to Africa from South America (the Portuguese first discovered peanuts in Brazil). African peanut soup may be served on its own or over rice. It is usually served during Kwanzaa, the annual celebration of African-American culture. In America, peanut soup can be traced back to the early 1700s. Although there is no written evidence of peanut soups existing in 18thy century America, experts believe that slaves survived on peanut soup and stews.
