I want to share something with you that I’ve enjoyed since I was a wee, little young’un, boiled (pronounced bawled) peanuts. Before you go running off in horror, just bear with me. Please? Purty please? I know it sounds kinda yucky to those who’ve never had them before, but you’ve gotta try them, at least once – unless you have a peanut allergy of course.
It never occurred to me that boiled peanuts were not feasted upon from coast to coast, since they were always part of my upbringing – that and iced tea. You can imagine how surprised I was to find that my husband, who’s from North Carolina, had never had them before when we met in college. He’d also never seen Grease or The Wizard of Oz, but that’s another story for another day. But really, North Carolina? No boiled peanuts. How sad.
They’re super easy. They do take a while to cook but don’t let that keep you from giving it a go sometime. Boiled peanuts are the perfect snack for a ball game or a cookout.
You’ll need raw peanuts (or green*), water and salt. That’s all. Oh, and a big stock pot.
Before getting started I should mention that some people recommend soaking the peanuts for several hours (6-8) in salted water to reduce cooking time. I’ve never soaked them myself but if you have time, and think ahead, try it.
To begin the cooking process, fill a large stock pot with water, add salt and bring to a boil then add the peanuts.
They’ll want to float a bit (if you haven’t soaked them) so stir them around and they’ll eventually settle down.
Cover the pot and cook on a slow boil/simmer for several hours. Some recipes call for boiling the peanuts for only 2-3 hours, but depending on the amount you’re cooking it may be more like 6-8 hours.
Be sure to keep checking the progress every hour or so. What you’re looking for is a totally soft peanut. Some like it a little less “done” or al dente if you will. I like ‘em soft though. You may need to add water throughout the cook time to make sure that there’s always enough water in the pot to cover the peanuts and then some wiggle room.
When prepared correctly, they really are a treat. I wouldn’t tell you a fib.
Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 4 quarts of water
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 pounds of raw peanuts (or green* peanuts)
Instructions
- In a large stock pot bring the water and salt to boil.
- Add the peanuts and stir to “settle” peanuts. Cover and reduce to a slow boil/simmer.
- Check water level every hour and taste for doneness. Add more salt if desired.
- Total cook time may be up to 6-8 hours.
- *If you use green peanuts (peanuts fresh from the field that haven’t been dried) the cook time may be shorter.
I love bawled peanuts. Get them every time I head south to Destin. Tastes like chick peas or garbonzo beans. Yum!!!
Susan
Oh, my goodness! I cannot let my hubby see this post! He will have me making these at home. He wants to stop and get them every time we go to NC and they make such a mess in the car! I am soooo in trouble now!
Okay so i love these and I miss them, we would buy them on the way to Myrtle Beach but I dont know where to find raw peanuts around here…I better figure it out though, I crave them!!
Hmmm, interesting!
mmm, I can’t live without boiled peanuts. I buy my peanuts fresh from sweet little 80-something-year-old Miss Gloria at our farmer’s market by the huge sackful and then cook them overnight in my crockpot, adding water if it needs it. I freeze the extra so I can have them even when Miss Gloria’s field’s long bare of green peanuts. It just wouldn’t do not to have fresh boiled peanuts in the fall when tailgating!
I LOVE boiled peanuts! it’s considered “normal” food in the Philippines, not even redneck in our terms. Haha. Recently, a Chinese friend taught me a different flavor to introduce to the boiling process. I was skeptic at first, but I was boiled…er bawled over–she put a couple of star anise. Wow, so yummy!!!
Ms. Amy, love your site. We tried your Dr. Pepper cake this weekend, coupled it with the icing Ree posted on Tasty Kitchen last week. Hmmmm ….
As far as the boil peanuts go, we love ‘em ! Some of our family in Michigan that can’t get them up there, will come to visit in July every summer. We usually eat a bushel the week they come and send a bushel back for their enjoyment later.
I love ‘em!!
Funny – I just saw Anthony Bourdain eating them in one of his shows and wondered how to make’em. Thanx for the recipe – I’ll sure give it a try!
Oh these boiled peanut? They are actually quite a common street food in Malaysia and Singapore
LOVE, LOVE RAW PEAQNUTS!!! THEY’RE SO DELISH!!!
I really want to try these!!
GOOBERS! what a treat indeed–great post, amy.
Heck Yeah!!! We love ‘em. We always purchase Cajun Boiled Peanuts when we visit Hendersonville. It’s a tradition. I do love making them myself though. Thanks for sharing a Southern (not just redneck, or is it?) delicacy.
Hey Southern Gal!
Yeah, I guess you’re right, they’re a Southern delicacy not necessarily redneck. I should probably change the title before I tick someone off.
~ Amy
In HENDERSONVILLE!! Been searching for peanuts. Please tell me where I can find them!!
I never had these until I worked in Atlanta. I was hooked! But you cannot get them in Boston! Where do you even find raw peanuts?
Never had these. I’ll have to give these a whirl.
I’m wondering if my guys would like them — opening day for the Cubs is coming up and we always have a big bowl of peanuts… I may have to try these.
And hey, your photos were just lovely in this post. The one of the salt had me absolutely mesmerized! Be-yew-ti-ful!
Boiled peanuts are the best! Amy darlin’ where is your man from in NC? Did his Momma lock him in a closet(JK)? I have lived from the mountains to the coast of NC all of my life and there are boiled peanuts to be found for sure
. At least he was lucky enough to meet you so that you could introduce him to one of life’s simple pleasures.
I love, love, LOVE ‘em! (But here in my house, they’re pronounced “biled”)
Doggone it, now I’ve got a craving! I don’t think I’ve got the patience to make my own, luckily for me, we’ve got the peanut lady just down the road…back in a minute…
Yes…these are one of those things. If you’re southern, you know about them (and generally loooove them). Sold in gas stations, road side stands, and little league baseball games. Boiled peanuts. It makes me long for home!
Thanks for sharing. I made some at the end of last summer and shared them with my friends, up in this yankee part of the world! I need to get around to making them again.
Oh, girl. I do love some boiled peanuts! I grew up in “peanut country” and my Daddy grew about a hundred acres of them every year. Of course we had them every Fall and kept them in the freezer to have the rest of the year. I wrote quite a nostalgic post about them on my site last Fall. If you’re interested in how they get from field to table, take a look at that post here: http://www.lanascooking.com/2009/11/16/boiled-peanuts/
I’ve never heard of boiled peanuts and I wonder why they are so good? I guess the only way to find out is to try it!
I JUST saw boiled peanuts on a TV show the other day. B & I were like..what the heck are boiled peanuts? Fun!
This looks delicious! YUM! I LOVED boiled peanuts!
Yum, it’s been a while since I’ve had them. They sound DELICIOUS right now (anything does. LOL)
Hey, LOVE the blue pot! Mm-m-m, where’d you get it?
Nope. Never seen a boiled peanut. Definitely looks like something that’s worth a try. Has your husband seen the Wizard of Oz yet?
Funny to see this post today, as my daughter said to me this weekend, “we should grow peanuts this year in the garden and make our own peanut butter.” I had to explain to her that as Minnesotans we are not blessed with the appropriate climate to grow peanuts. Being a northern girl, I’ve never heard of boiled peanuts, but they sure look interesting!
I love boiled peanuts. It’s a popular snack among Asians.
I never heard of them till I just moved to Myrtle Beach,discovered them and fell in love!Once you start you can not stop! Seriously! They are delicious.
Not only are they good but are good for you. Loaded with antioxidants and flavanoids. The boiling process enhances the benefits. I am trying to get them to catch on in northern NC.
You can buy raw peanuts at Wal-Mart. They are usually in bags in the produce section. Just read the front and make sure they say Raw peanuts. If they don’t have them, the store manager will be happy to order them for you. I cook them in the crock pot overnight and my family thanks me for it! We are living in the North now but grew up in Georgia where you can find them everywhere.