mmm… boiled peanuts, anyone?
It is one of those things that I look forward to in every fiesta in every places. Apart from the fun of seeing a big crowd gathering in one place, screaming while taking a deep breath upon riding the ferris wheel, or even the excitement of winning your bet on huldam, it is these boiled peanuts that I’m after for.
When I arrive here in the US, I didn’t expect to see boiled peanuts. Afterall, we have different cuisine and different style of prep. But when we lived in the south – North Carolina, Florida and Georgia, it came to my awareness that the same style of preparing peanuts is not just a favorite snack down there but is also infact the official snack food in South Carolina.
In the south, boiling peanuts is a folk cultural practice. When peanut crops would come in, unsold peanuts are then boiled. Extended family, friends and neighbors would gather around the peanut boil for a celebration of the harvest. When I was in Tallahassee, every Friday is a treat that is because it is on this day that vendors would put up their large barrel filled with boiling hot water and peanuts. I was so excited when Travis first brought me some when he came home from work.
Here in the Midwest especially Minnesota, boiled peanuts are unheard of. Last week, I was craving for them and Travis brought me some peanuts to cook. Normally, the boiled peanuts used are the uncoooked ones in their shell. But since Travis brought me some roasted peanuts in shell, I thought I can just give it a try. I soaked it in water with a little salt and boiled it for at least 2 hours. The result is a very soft peanut in the shell, invariably quite salty and easy to open. Exactly how it tasted like back home! Every crack of the shell brings back memories, every toss and chew of the salty goodness makes me feel closer to home. It is just one of the ways that I can reconnect to my roots… to my childhood… and to my family whom I missed the most.
BOILED PEANUTS RECIPE
Throw a peanut boil for your family and friends and enjoy good company.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. green peanuts
- salt
- 1 qt. Water
Preparation:
- Wash peanuts with their shells on and place them in a large kettle. Add water until the water is an inch about the floating peanuts. Push the peanuts down with your hand to make sure the water is at the right level above the peanuts.
- For each quart of water, add a rounded tablespoon of salt. Bring water to a rolling boil. After the water comes to a boil, turn down the heat and allow peanuts to simmer, as long as two hours or more, depending on how crunchy you like your peanuts.
- Allow peanuts to sit in the brine as they cool to eating temperature. Place peanuts with shells on in a large serving bowl and serve immediately with cold beverages and extra bowls for shells.
jacy panghatag ug mani!!! pastilan nag laway gayud ako ug maayo diri!wla man ko kita ug hilaw nga mani dri uy.
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you should be able to find it sa department store. even if it’s roasted as long as it’s in a shell lods it should work. if it is salted, just minimize the salt. boil it until you will reach the desiered softness of your mani. i already consumed the first batch that i cooked. i’m gonna make another batch again. i wish you could come here so we can make good conversations over boiled peanuts. i miss you, lods!
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jacy,
got your invite in multiply today. thanks. i’ve never had boiled peanuts, only
heard about them. to me it sounds gross. how is it possible to enjoy
soggy peanuts?
hugz
deb
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i don’t know Deb but I love it! it’s not really soggy but it’s tender. i hope you’re doing well today. i miss hearing about you. hope all is well.
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peanuts for me are addictive. boiled or just fresh, you just couldn’t stop til you realize you only have empty shells left. hehehe! Nanay loves peanuts too…though this time, because of her arthritis, she has to minimize- if not stop it.
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I’m lucky Jacs that for now I am not craving for peanuts, so visiting your site at this time is not very “stressful” for me. hehehe! FYI, Georgia is famous for its boiled peanuts…and they are spicy ones- if that’s the right word I’m looking.
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why didn’t you include mita that aside from fiestas and sinulog, we also eat peanuts either on our way to of from the menteryo every Adlaw sa Minatay. hehehe! Not that we eat it there actually. But we eat it while walking…and sight-seeing those “kalag-nga-buhi”. hehehe!
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hi jacy,
finished with a theme just a little while ago. sorry i wasn’t around much lately but
i wasn’t in the best of moods and i didn’t want to leave messages here and take
you and everybody else down too. i am feeling much better now. i missed
being here and i missed you too. i miss you on multiply but i know you are getting
back there as you can. hugz and prayerz
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Manang Ror,
Now I have confirmed that the love of peanuts runs in our blood. I have not tried GA’s spicy peanuts. I like those other kind of peanuts but boiled ones are just my favorite.
Of course, I remember those times when we would usually eat it on our way home from the cemetery after paying tributes to our departed relatives and family during All Soul’s Day. We are definitely sight-seeing the cute living souls. It turned out that my major living soul has become a part of the departed ones. Uy, may he rest in peace.
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Deb,
I’m glad to know that you are feeling better. it’s nice to know that you are still making themes and are doing good at it. keep it up! i don’t know when i can get back to designing. only time can tell. just let me know if there’s anything i can do to help. take care!
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Halo girl,
i made boiled peanuts yesterday and posted it on my blog too.Yummy jud kaau. Thank u
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you’re welcome girl! i’m going to check it out. and i will add you in my blogroll ha?
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Can someone please tell me where I can buy green peanuts in the Twin Cities? My family is from SC and we have been craving boiled peanuts but all the grocery stores don’t carry them and when asked they look at us like we’re crazy! Thanx! [email protected]
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hello Priscilla!
i haven’t found green peanuts here around the Twin Cities. the ones i actually made are made from Roasted peanuts which turned out to be similar. So, if you are really craving for it, try using the roasted peanuts instead. There is also this website that sells Boiled Peanuts. check this out: Papa John’s Boiled Peanuts.
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