Sopa de Mani (Bolivian Peanut and Potato Soup)

Sopa de mani, a classic South American dish, is made with peanuts and yellow potatoes, which give the soup a thick, creamy texture and light color.

Ingredients

• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 large onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus more for frying potato sticks)
• 0.75 pound beef short ribs
• 0.5 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 6 cups beef stock (or water)
• 1 cup raw unsalted peanuts
• 1 cup water
• 4 medium Yukon gold (or other yellow potatoes)
• 0.5 cup rice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 0.5 cup fresh peas (or frozen)
• Garnish: 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (and/or cilantro)
• Optional: hot pepper sauce ( llajua )

Steps

1. Finely mince the garlic and onions. Peel the carrots and cut them into small diced pieces. Set aside.
2. Place the vegetable oil in a large soup pot and heat over medium heat. Add the beef ribs and sauté briefly until browned on all sides. Add the onions, garlic, carrots, cumin, and oregano and continue to cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the beef stock and bring to a simmer.
3. Place the peanuts in a blender or food processor and add 1 cup of water. Process peanuts until you have a thick, relatively smooth paste, adding more water if necessary. Add the peanut paste to the soup and stir well. Simmer soup for 1 hour or so, covered.
4. Peel the potatoes, reserving 1 for later use. Cut the remaining 3 potatoes into small (1- to 2-inch) wedges and add them to the soup. Add some water or more stock to the soup if needed. Cover and simmer until potatoes are well cooked and falling apart. Mash the potatoes gently in the soup.
5. Remove ribs from the soup and let cool on a plate. Remove meat from bones and add the meat back to the soup. Add the rice and simmer for 20 minutes more.
6. Taste soup for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Add the peas and turn heat down to low.
7. Cut the remaining potato into matchsticks. Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a small pan and cook the potato sticks until golden brown. Remove, drain on paper towels, and season with salt.
8. Serve soup in bowls, garnished with the matchstick fries and chopped parsley and cilantro. Offer hot sauce on the side.