I'm originally from Georgia, and recently returned from a month-long visit with my relatives. As soon as I get my feet back on some red clay, I immediately start seeking out my favorite Southern delicacies that I can't find in San Francisco. Among these are hot boiled peanuts. One of my cherished past times is driving along winding country roads and stopping at "HOT BOILED P-NUT" stands along the way, and purchasing a paper bag full of addictive, salty, soft peanut snacks. But when I am not in Georgia, I make these tasty treats at home. It's quite easy!
To make hot boiled peanuts, you'll need:
As many raw peanuts in shells as you like - the younger and fresher they are, the better. If they're advertised as "green" - get them.
A stock pot big enough to hold them, plus water
Kosher salt
Optional seasonings such as Old Bay Seasoning, chipotle peppers, Cajun spices, etc.
Rinse off the peanuts in cold water to clean them off and remove any lingering dirt and sediment. Add the peanuts to your stock pot and top off with water. Next, measure out the salt. The general rule of thumb is 3 TBSP of salt per pound of peanuts. If you're adding seasonings, add them now. Stir well and bring to a boil. Let boil, covered, for 3 to 4 hours. After 2 hours, grab a peanut out of the water and let it cool. Taste. Adjust salt and/or seasonings if needed. Peanuts are done when the nuts are soft and chewy and the shells easily pry open. Drain and store in fridge. Keeps for a day or two. Serve as a snack with a cold beer or a cold glass of iced tea.
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(Image: Kara Hudson - thanks!)
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I live in Savannah. On the way out to the beach we always stop for one bag of spicy and one bag of salty hot-boiled peanuts to put in the cooler. AMAZINGLY delicious,ice cold beach snacks!!!
Oh, these are delicious and addictive. I make them so often now. I feel sad for everyone not in the South that's never had these.
You've triggered a flashback for me: boiled peanuts as a family snack, and the piles of warm shells in bowls around the table. The weird part is that I have no connection to the South whatsoever -- my parents are Hong Kong Chinese.
I never thought to make these myself! Mmm, salty hot boiled peanuts and cold sweet tea. Sounds like dinner!
Oh, man. I'm from New Orleans; does that count as the South? I have a memory of a family friend from Georgia, assigned to bring a preschool snack one day. She brought boiled peanuts, opting for an old home-made favorite in lieu of nasty store-bought cookies, or some such.
Not one of the children touched them.
I still don't see the appeal, personally; but I will not begrudge the Georgian his boiled peanut.
http://www.abreadaday.com
Boiled peanuts are one of my absolute favorite snacks. Yum!
Former Floridian here and I remember driving to the beach or to Disney World and getting the boiled peanuts. Stopping off at any roadside fruit stand and they'd have tons of fruit and a giant peanut boiler off to the side. Yummy, and just last week I was craving some. As kids, Grandma kept cans of boiled peanuts around for us to snack on at night; not the same but kinda nostalgic in its own way.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm from Georgia too and have many fond memories of boiled peanuts. Whenever I mention them in San Francisco people give me the strangest look. I tell them it's like edamame, but better!
Boiled peanuts are the best! The funny thing is that Asian food places occasionally have them too. I like mine spicy with tons red pepper flakes and a huge glass of sweet tea to wash it down with. Yummy.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE boiled peanuts.
When they are in season at the farmers market I usually make them once a month. They are addictive. Especially cold for breakfast.
I lived in North Carolina for 13 years and boiled peanuts are one of the things I really miss. My grandmother, originally from Georgia, insisted we bring cans of these back up to Massachusetts every time our family visited though they are a poor substitute for fresh, hot ones.
I would make them myself but I have yet to find a place that sells raw peanuts here in western Mass.
I'm a GA peach as well and I can't believe I've found a place where other people enjoy BP as well!! HURRAY!!
I was wondering...as well, can you home can BP's and how long would they store? I live alone (not to mention my friends won't eat them....weirdos...j/k i luv yall) and it'd be worth it to make a bunch of batches and then can them to have on craving demand. would they get soft and smushy?
@Slippintrippn84 - I have never tried to can them, and I think that might make them toooooo salty being stored like that - but I wonder if you could try freezing them in batches?
I love boiled peanuts (although, I like them cold & I believe they're supposed to be served HOT. Oh well.)... I'm all over the idea of making them myself (what's a little boiled brine to readers of TheKitchn??) - but WHERE do you find raw peanuts?? I mean, the internet seems a likely source but an unfamiliar vendor is just asking for salmonella-like issues. Anyone else have a good source?
ahh! Lived in Savannah for a few years and always got them on the way to the beach too!
I went to the lake yesterday (now in Minnesota) and was dreaming about them!!!
So tonight my boyfriend and I happened to be at the grocery store and Green Peanuts were in a huge bin for $1.39 per lb. We bought 6 pounds of them and I've got 4 lbs in a stock pot boiling away as we speak. We just pulled out a spoonful to test for flavor and he really said it best: "Man that is the WAY to eat PEANUTS!!" They really are so good. And all this time it has been so easy??? Looks like we don't have to stop on the way to the beach anymore- we'll just fill up the cooler with our own! Thanks so much for posting these simple instructions; and for the record: the salt ratio is just right!
This comment is a little late, but to the person who asked how to keep them--my grandpa freezes them in small batches. He uses ziploc freezer bags. He just thaws them in the fridge for a day or two. We like them hot or cold so these are fine : ) Yum!!!!