West African Spinach with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Dishes flavored with peanuts and spiced with chiles are found throughout West Africa. This spinach dish is typical and delicious served over rice or couscous. Let your own heat tolerance be your guide on the amount of chiles to use. If you prefer, hot red pepper flakes may be substituted for the chiles or they may be omitted altogether for a mild yet flavorful dish.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 pound fresh spinach, stemmed and well washed
1 tablespoon cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 fresh hot chiles, seeded and minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained and finely chopped
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
Salt

Cooking Directions:

1. Steam the spinach over boiling water, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Chop the spinach and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and chiles. Cover and cook until softened, about 7 minutes.
3. Stir in the tomatoes and peanut butter and cook for 5 minutes, stirring to make a sauce. Add a little water if the mixture is too dry. Add the reserved spinach and cook, stirring, until hot. Season to taste with salt.

Makes 4 servings.

Source: Vegan Fire & Spice: 200 Sultry and Savory Global Recipes by Robin Robertson. For more of Robin’s recipes, musings, and cooking tips, visit her website globalvegankitchen.com.