Boiled Peanuts Recipe
Boiled Peanuts are a traditional Southern snack that are easy to make at home.
I want to share something with you that I’ve enjoyed since I was a wee little: boiled peanuts. Before you go running off in horror, just bear with me. I know it may sound odd to those who’ve never enjoyed them before. I get that. But really, if you’ve never tried them, you’ve got to at least once.
Growing up in South Carolina it never occurred to me that Boiled Peanuts were not a national food. You can imagine how surprised I was to find that my husband, who’s from neighboring North Carolina, had not had them until we met in college. He’d also never seen Grease or The Wizard of Oz. That’s another story for another day. But really, North Carolina? No boiled peanuts? How very sad.
If you can’t find a local establishment to sell you a paper bag full of Boiled Peanuts, they are super easy to make right at home. I wouldn’t say they are quick, but they are easy. They do take a while to boil to the correct doneness but don’t let that keep you making a big batch. When prepared correctly, they really are a treat, not to mention sneaky addictive.
Boiled Peanuts recipe notes:
- Some recommend soaking the raw 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 plan ahead, give it a go.
- To begin the cooking process, fill a large stock pot with water, add salt and bring to a boil then add the peanuts.
- If you don’t soak them, the peanut will want to float a bit. Stir them around a few times. They’ll eventually settle down.
- Cook time will vary depending on the amount of peanuts you’re cooking. Cooktime could be up to 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 them soft. 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.
- An outdoor gas cooker/turkey fryer is perfect for boiling peanuts.
- 4 quarts of water
- ½ cup salt
- 2 pounds of raw peanuts (or green* peanuts)
- 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. Cook for about 3 hours and check for preferred doneness. Add more time as needed. Total cook time may be up to 6-8 hours.
Originally posted March 21, 2010. Updated July 1, 2015.
I’m tickled that you’re here! Like you, I wear many hats, and live to tell about it. This space is a place for sharing food, home, garden, travel and lifestyle tidbits, with some fun always thrown in for good measure.
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! 😉
Do you freeze them before or after cooking them?
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/
Thank you for insight 🙂
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.
I have fond memories of eating these with a pepsi-cola, growing up in North Carolina. I have to buy a bag of raw peanuts every so often to satisfy that hankerin’. Could not find them in the stores, so the last bag I bought was online from http://www.nuts.com. They were huge and got here fast. Of course, I put a pot on right away. I am glad they are so nutritious, cause they are addictive.
I absolutely love boiled peanuts, been eating them all my life~! 🙂 Great post!!!
Michael 🙂
They’re so addicting! I can begin or I won’t quit until they’re gone.
Everyone should try these at least once, they are amazing. I moved from New England to the South in my thirties, and when I discovered boiled peanuts I knew I’d found my “true” home! I make them on a regular basis and my whole family loves them! The only thing I do differently is that I don’t cover the pot while they’re boiling. I think they come out more tender if the pot is open (I like them REALLY soft). I used to soak them but I found that it really didn’t change the cooking time all that much. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Pingback: 50+ Recipe Perfect for Tailgate Food - She Wears Many Hats
raw peanuts can be ordered online.. I use all kinds of spices in mine. got hooked on them while visiting SC. when my Grandson graduated from PI. USMC. I am now a peanut junkie.
Great to know, Pete! They are easy to get hooked on, for sure.