Boiled peanuts have a rich history that started during the Civil War. Southerners started boiling peanuts on their march through Georgia because food and supplies became hard to come by after the Confederate troops split up. So they found a way to combat hunger by roasting peanuts over campfires or boiling them. Later on, they started adding salt to the peanuts to prolong their shelf life; hence, hot salted boiled peanuts were born in the U.S. The boiled peanut fever then spread in the Southern part of America in the 18th century. And the rest is history! Now let’s switch to the other side of the globe, shall we? Groundnuts have long been eaten for centuries in most West and East African countries. Yes, it’s known as groundnuts in Africa, and to my surprise, they didn’t originate in Africa. Historians say the peanut plant originated from South America, and the Portuguese took it to Africa sometime in 1500 after they had it in Brazil. The love of peanuts quickly spread across Africa and became a popular staple in dishes like African Peanut Stew, aka Groundnut Soup.
Recipe Ingredients
You are probably saying, “Uhm, Imma, boiled peanuts are a no-brainer recipe!” Yes, it is! But this recipe is more than just boiled peanuts because these peanuts are tastier and more flavorful. And they are the best-est peanuts you’ll ever taste! 😉
How to Make Boiled Peanuts
Season and Boil the Peanuts
Alternative Cooking Methods
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
These guys take a loooong time to cook, so it’s best to make them ahead, especially if serving a crowd. So I highly suggest cooking a big batch to save you time and have them handy anytime you want a snack. Just reheat them when the craving hits. They get even better.
Serving and Storage Instructions
These peanuts are perfect as gameday snacks and other pica foods, like seasoned fries and chicken croquettes while drinking ice-cold beer. Or something to endlessly munch on while watching a movie or having a long chit-chat with family and friends. Aah! Talk about enjoying tasty snacks while reaping their health benefits, too. Yay! Storing You don’t have to worry about the leftovers (especially if you’re making a big batch) because they keep well in the fridge. Once cooled, you can transfer the peanuts into a sealed container or freezer-safe resealable bag and store them in the fridge for up to 7 days. Or opt to freeze them to prolong their shelf life for six months. Reheating
Stovetop – You can reboil these peanuts to enjoy them warm again.Steamer – Alternatively, steaming will warm your peanuts, too, without the need to drain them after.Microwave – This may be the quickest way to reheat peanuts; however, it doesn’t yield the best results. Because the shells make it hard to reheat the peanuts evenly; you can reheat the peanuts in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
What to Serve with Boiled Peanuts
For a more satisfying experience, I suggest you pair up your boiled peanuts with boiled corn on the cob. Yum! Nothing can beat a good old healthy boiled peanuts and corn. And, of course, you’ll need some refreshing beverages to go with that.
Jamaican Carrot JuiceSouthern Sweet TeaJungle JuicePassion Fruit JuiceMango Lemonade
More Drool-Worthy Peanut Recipes to Try
African Peanut StewGroundnut/Peanut SoupMaafe (West African Peanut Soup)Suya RecipeGroundnut Sweet (Sugar Peanuts aka Candied Nuts)
Conclusion
Aside from being healthy, these boiled peanuts are also incredibly delicious, filling, and economical. They make the best snacks fit for all ages. Although it takes time to cook them, know that it’ll be worth all the wait once you taste them. Have you ever tried them before? I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”1Qbom9td” upload-date=”2019-10-17T12:43:57.000Z” name=”Boiled Peanuts” description=”Spicy Cajun Boiled Peanuts — are salty, spicy, nutty and oh so addictive. Perfect for summer snack time, late night movie marathon and for entertaining. A classic Southern delicacy!”] This blog post was originally published in August 2017 and has been updated with additional tips and information.