“King’s Arms Tavern” Peanut Soup

Today’s entree is
– King’s Arms Tavern Peanut Soup.

“King’s Arms Tavern” is a nationally renowned establishment in Williamsburg, Virginia, often frequented by our country’s founding father, George Washington. The peanut soup is a legendary treat.

In the mid-1960s, my folks and I took a trip through the area to visit Washington, DC, the Jamestown settlement and nearby Williamsburg. We had lunch at the tavern, and I remember the server wrapping me and my family members in huge napkins. It reminded me of being at a barber shop. The servers would proudly claim as they pointed to a seat “George Washington sat right there”, the restaurant having been in operation since the late 1700s.

This is their recipe for peanut soup:

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 celery rib, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 3 cups chicken stock (I prefer to make my own)
  • 5 tbsp smooth peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup light cream or half-and-half
  • Finely chopped salted peanuts, for garnish

How to make it

  • Using a large soup pot over medium heat, melt butter.
  • Add onion and celery and saute until onions are clear (about 5 minutes).
  • Stir in flour and whisk while cooking on low-medium until texture is smooth and bubbly (about two or three minutes).
  • Add chicken stock increasing the heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  • Reduce the heat to low-medium and simmer, stirring often, until slightly reduced and thickened (15 minutes).
  • Strain the mixture through a sieve collecting as much of the liquid and removing as much of the solid matter as possible.
  • Return the liquid to the pot.
  • Add peanut butter and cream to the liquid while whisking in.
  • Simmer on low, whisking often (about 5 to 10 minutes).
  • Ladle into soup bowls with finely chopped peanuts sprinkled on top.

After serving, refrigerate the remnants. Re-serve ice-cold for a great summer snack.

“Hip! Hip!”

Steve D.

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