Jim here with another one of my favorites – – boiled peanuts! A true Southern staple. In summer and early fall you see boiled peanuts everywhere. Pickup trucks setup on street corners with giant cookers boiling peanuts is a common sight all across the south.
Boiled peanuts have definitely grown on me over the years. I went for years without touching them, then I would try them a couple times a year, and now I’ve started cooking them myself frequently. If you’ve never had a boiled peanut, it really is kind of liked a cooked pea (hence the nickname “goober peas”). They are soft and take on some of the flavoring that you add.
My recipe below is a great starting point. Nice and spicy with plenty of salt. However, you should feel free to experiment with the seasoning. Maybe try adding some jalapeños or beer (hint, hint).
The key is finding the freshest green peanuts that you can. They’ll cook quicker and taste better.
- 2 pounds green peanuts, picked over
- 1/4 C salt
- 1/4 C cajun seasoning
- Place the peanuts in a large pot and cover with water.
- Add salt and cajun seasoning and boil (over high heat) until done. Hulls should be easy to open and peanuts should be soft, but not mushy. Cooking time depends largely on the freshness of the peanuts, but figure 2-4 hours.
- Keep adding water as necessary to keep peanuts submerged.
- Store in large plastic bags, with a little of the cooking liquid, in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave.
- Experiment with your own seasonings and flavorings to make this recipe your own.
- IMPORTANT: Boiled peanuts will continue to absorb salt from the cooking liquid after you turn off the heat. If your peanuts need to be saltier, just let them sit. If they are salty enough already then don't let them sit in the liquid.
How to Eat Boiled Peanuts
I like to put a bunch of boiled peanuts in a bowl and add a little extra cajun seasoning (or salt) on top. You’ll want to make sure some of the peanut cooking liquid is in the bowl too… it’s tasty. Crack open the peanuts and enjoy. Don’t eat the shells.
Have you ever seen or tried boiled peanuts? Let me know in the comments!