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    Home » Recipes » Soup & Stew

    Virginia Peanut Soup (with 21 Topping Ideas)

    November 21, 2018 • Updated: March 15, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Savory Cream of Peanut Soup {with 21 Toppings} - We’ve updated the historical recipe with 21st Century tastes in mind, while retaining the rich, satisfying essence of original. (Inspired by the King's Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg, WIlliamsburg, Virginia. | The Good Hearted Woman

    Cream of Peanut Soup, a mainstay at Colonial Williamsburg's King's Arms Tavern, is rich, savory, and surprisingly scrumptious. Updated with 21st century tastes in mind, you can have this quick, easy soup on the table in just 45 minutes!

    45-degree shot of pottery bowl filled with peanut soup, garnished with peanuts.
    Jump to:
    • What's the Story Behind this Recipe?
    • How We Updated this Heirloom Recipe
    • How to Serve Peanut Soup
    • FAQs & Expert Tips
    • Creamy Winter Soups
    • Colonial Cream of Peanut Soup

    What's the Story Behind this Recipe?

    Colonial Williamsburg is a full-scale working village that recreates the town of Williamsburg during the time period leading up to the American Revolution. The King’s Arms Tavern first opened there in 1772. It was there that I was first served Peanut Soup, while traveling with my high school history class on our much-anticipated “East Coast American History Tour.”

    Horse-drawn carriage on the streets of Colonial Williamsburg.

    That's me on the left, with my lifelong friend Julie B, waiting in the Portland airport to take off on our East Coast adventure. From an era long before selfies, it is one of only two pictures I have of myself from the entire trip. The image on the right is a shot of Colonial Williamsburg.

    As my classmates and I settled in for dinner, I vaguely remember an older lady in Colonial costuming reviewing our prix fixe menu with us, adding colorful little stories and historical context about each dish as she went. Reading ahead, I noted that one of our courses was to be “peanut soup.” I’d never heard of such a thing and was intrigued. Peanut soup? It sounded oddly scrumptious.

    Soon after our hostess completed her introduction of the menu, our peanut soup arrived, accompanied by a sweet potato roll. The soup was creamy and smooth as silk, and the sweet potato rolls were warm and crusty.

    The soup and rolls created a perfect pairing, and were very satisfying all by themselves. I was full before the end of the soup course, and though I don't remember the rest of the meal, I do remember buying a copy of the Williamsburg Cookbook for my mom before we left the King's Arms Tavern.

    How We Updated this Heirloom Recipe

    It was to that same cookbook I first referred when I set out to recreate the memory of that long-ago peanut soup. However, after making a test batch per the cookbook's directions, I was a little disappointed in the outcome: it was simply too bland for my 21st century tastes, so I decided to make some adjustments. 

    The first thing I did was cut the recipe in half, for two reasons: first, the original recipe makes almost four quarts of peanut soup! Unless you have a very large family or are running a Colonial-themed tavern, you do not need four quarts of peanut soup.

    Which leads me to the second reason I decreased the recipe: this is a very rich cream soup. You simply won't need as much peanut soup as you might need, say a lighter, brothier soup like chicken noodle or beef barley.

    Southern peanut soup is very much like a thinned Asian satay sauce, but less sweet. To the original recipe's list of ingredients, I added lemon juice for brightness, hot pepper for kick, brown sugar (because it is the secret to almost everything), and kosher salt because - Holy-Low-Sodium-Diet, Batman! - did this recipe ever need it!

    How to Serve Peanut Soup

    Virginia Peanut Soup can be served hot or cold. (Mr B and I both prefer it warm.) Pair it with a green salad and you've got yourself a seriously satisfying meal.

    Many people reserve peanut soup for the holidays, like stuffing or cranberry sauce. If it is your plan serve peanut soup as the first course of a larger meal, we suggest offering it in small bowls or demitasse cups, no more than 4-5 inches across. Serving small portions will make a satisfying transition to the main course without ruining your guests' appetites.

    Peanut soup can be served as is, but if you want to make things interesting, offer toppings in small cups or bowls and give your guests the opportunity to create their own flavor combinations. 

    My favorite combo so far is bacon, pine nuts, pomegranate pips, and a dash of harissa. 

    9-panel collage of different toppings on peanut soup.

    Peanut Soup Toppings

    The word "topping" is actually a bit of a misnomer. While this is a very rich soup, it isn't as thick as you might imagine, so heavier toppings tend to sink to the bottom of your bowl. (Don't tell anyone, but I had to use a little blogger magic to keep those banana chips floating on the surface.)  Anyway, that's what spoons are for. 

    This list of topping ideas is intended to get you started, but there are dozens of other choices that would work just as well. Just look through your pantry and/or fridge and pick out something fun!

    Choose topping/add-ins that give the soup crunch, and bite, and really enhance the flavor of the soup itself. Fresh, citrusy flavors and little crunchy bites work especially well.

    • apple slices
    • popcorn
    • Gold Fish Crackers
    • peanuts
    • bacon bits
    • tortilla cut-outs
    • parmesan crisps
    • green onions
    • banana slices
    • pomegranate pips
    • orange slices
    • dill pickle 
    • cilantro
    • granola
    • poached egg
    • honey
    • toast points
    • pepitos
    • red pepper flakes
    • harissa
    • whole grain croutons

    FAQs & Expert Tips

    Where does peanut soup come from?

    Peanut soup is considered a Southern delicacy, and dates back in America to the early 1700s.
     
    Peanuts are thought to have been brought to America by Portuguese slave traders. Along with black-eyed peas and yams, peanuts were carried on slave ships to feed enslaved Africans during their passage to the New World.  
     
    Peanut soup itself is most certainly an adaptation of the peanut soups and stews brought from Africa.

    How long does peanut soup last?

    Leftovers will last about 4-5 days int he refrigerator.
    You can also freeze peanut soup in the freezer for up to 5 months. Store in an air-tight container or freezer bag.

    Side view of pottery bowl filled with peanut soup, garnished with peanuts.

    Creamy Winter Soups

    • Hungarian Mushroom Soup (Szekelyderzs)
    • Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • Loaded Baked Potato Soup
    • Smoked Salmon Chowder

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    45-degree shot of pottery bowl filled with peanut soup, garnished with peanuts.
    5 from 7 votes

    Colonial Cream of Peanut Soup

    Cream of Peanut Soup, a mainstay at Colonial Williamsburg's King's Arms Tavern; here updated with 21st Century tastes in mind, while retaining the rich, satisfying essence of original.  
    Adapted from the Peanut Soup at the King's Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg. 
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Main dish or side, Soup
    Cuisine: Holiday
    Diet: Low Salt, Vegetarian
    Prep Time:15 minutes
    Cook Time:30 minutes
    Total Time:45 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 184kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Immersion Blender
    • 1 stockpot

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • ¾ cup finely chopped onion
    • ½ cup finely diced celery
    • 2 tablespoons flour
    • 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
    • 1 cup smooth peanut butter (I use Skippy)
    • 1 cup light cream or heavy cream, or half-and-half
    • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
    • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 - 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
    • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
    • chopped salted peanuts for garnish

    Instructions

    • In a heavy saucepan or stockpot over medium heat, sauté onion and celery in butter until soft.
      Do allow to brown.
    • Sprinkle flour over sautéed vegetables and stir to combine.
      Stir to saute for one minute.
    • Add chicken or vegetable stock to vegetables.
      Bring mixture to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. 
    • Allow the vegetable mixture to cool to a temperature that is safe to work with before proceeding to the next step. 
    • Option 1: Puree the cooled soup in the saucepan with a hand blender until smooth. 
      Option 2: Puree the cooled soup in a blender and return to saucepan. 
    • Into the pureed soup in pan, add the peanut butter and half & half.
      Stir until peanut butter has completely dissolved into the soup. 
    • Stir in lemon juice, kosher salt, hot pepper sauce, and brown sugar. 
    • Return pan to heat only to warm to soup to serving temperature. DO NOT BOIL!
    • Serve warm or cold. Garnish as desired.

    Notes

    Peanut soup can be served as is, but if you want to make things interesting, offer toppings in small cups or bowls and give your guests the opportunity to create their own flavor combinations. 
    Choose topping/add-ins that give the soup crunch, and bite, and really enhance the flavor of the soup itself. Fresh, citrusy flavors and little crunchy bites work especially well.
    • apple slices
    • popcorn
    • Gold Fish crackers
    • peanuts
    • bacon bits
    • tortilla triangles
    • parmesan crisps
    • green onions
    • dried banana slices
    • pomegranate pips
    • orange slices
    • dill pickle
    • cilantro
    • granola
    • poached egg
    • honey
    • toast points
    • pepitas
    • red pepper flakes
    • harissa
    • whole grain croutons

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 742mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. 

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

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    1. Susan Meng says

      January 30, 2020 at 1:57 pm

      I went to Williamsburg and had this soup. That was 19 years ago, and I never forgot about it. I'm so glad that I found your recipe, and I look forward to trying it.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        January 30, 2020 at 2:08 pm

        I hope you enjoy it! Did you have the sweet potato rolls when you were in Williamsburg, too? I need post the recipe here - they are one of the best dinner rolls I've ever had, and a perfect pairing for the soup!

        Reply
    2. Brittany Poulson says

      November 24, 2018 at 10:24 am

      I've never had peanut soup before, but it looks delicious! I love all the different ways you can customize it to your taste buds!

      Reply
    3. Kasey Ma says

      November 22, 2018 at 8:43 am

      I have never had peanut soup! It sounds yummy, I will have to try this.

      Kasey Ma
      thestylewright.com

      Reply
    4. Luci says

      November 21, 2018 at 10:20 pm

      I haven't heard of a peanut soup before, it sounds really interesting. I'll have to give it a try.

      Reply
    5. Ali says

      November 21, 2018 at 8:47 pm

      5 stars
      What an interesting recipe! This sounds so warm and comforting on a cold winter night!

      Reply
    6. Kate Findley says

      November 21, 2018 at 7:56 pm

      This sounds amazing! I love peanut butter, so peanut butter soup sounds like a dream come true. I also enjoyed reading about the historical background of the soup!

      Reply
    7. Courtney says

      November 21, 2018 at 12:48 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds so interesting! Can't wait to try this soup!

      Reply
    8. Adriana Lopez Martin says

      November 21, 2018 at 11:54 am

      5 stars
      I bet this soup is so delicious as I enjoy peanuts I use them a lot in my traditional Mexican cooking. I like that you can pair it in so many ways this is a great canvas to complement a menu. Never been to Williamsburg now I need to visit.

      Reply
    9. Chichi uguru says

      November 21, 2018 at 11:23 am

      5 stars
      I love peanuts. I would definitely be replicating this recipe. Thanks for the background story about colonial Williamsburg

      Reply
    10. Lisa | Garlic & Zest says

      November 21, 2018 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      I grew up a stones throw from Colonial Williamsburg and have been to the Kings Arms numerous times... Love that peanut soup. You've brought back so many memories for me. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        November 21, 2018 at 12:52 pm

        That is so cool, Lisa! We took our kids to visit Colonial Williamsburg a decade or so ago, and it was such a memorable trip. I'd love to visit again sometime.

        Reply
    11. Jamielyn says

      November 21, 2018 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      Looks delicious! Need to try soon!

      Reply
    12. Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life says

      November 21, 2018 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      Mmmm... I love all of the various kinds of peanut soups out there. We make a Filipino peanut stew and I love African peanut soup, but this peanut soup looks so different from both, and sounds absolutely delicious. Love the creamy, smooth texture of this soup, and what creative toppings you've come up with for this!

      Reply

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