It is a unique and delicious way to enjoy peanuts.īoiled peanuts have a different texture compared to crunchy roasted peanuts. Traditionally only salt is used for flavoring but today you can find vendors selling a variety of flavors such as Cajun, garlic, and dill pickle, to name a few. What Are Boiled Peanuts?īoiled peanuts are a classic Southern snack made simply by boiling raw unshelled peanuts in salted water for several hours until they are soft and tender and infused with the salty brine.

They come with a higher price tag but they are also excellent for boiling. They are “gourmet” peanuts and are most commonly reserved for roasting and snacking. They have a high oil content and are a little sweeter than other peanut varieties. The nuts are so huge there are usually only 1-2 nuts per shell. On the bottom right is my Virginia Jumbo peanut variety. Valencian peanuts (pictured in the top left picture above) have dark, reddish-purplish skins, usually fit 3-4 nuts per shell, and are most commonly used for making boiled peanuts. Peanuts grow underground and this is what a peanut plant looks like pulled up from the ground (see below). Planting the seeds and the first peanut plant sprouts emerging… Seriously, who would have ever guessed I’d someday end up a peanut farmer! So I planted them for the first time last year and as you can see in the photos below, they were a smashing success! I planted two types: Valencian and Virginia Jumbo. Considering I’m now living in Virginia, home of the first commercially grown peanuts and home of the world famous gourmet Virginia Jumbo peanuts, and considering I’m a passionate gardener, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try my hand at growing my own peanuts. That is, on very small, home garden scale. (No, it wasn’t just for the muscadines.) And guess what? We’ve already planted three varieties of them in our fruit orchard! The Daring Gourmet Turns Peanut Farmer The solution to the muscadines wasn’t so easy: I could only have them if I visited the South or if I moved to the South. Fortunately the solution to the boiled peanuts problem wasn’t too difficult: I learned how to make my own (score!). I knew once we boarded the plane and got back home to Washington I’d never find boiled peanuts or muscadines again.

It was love at first bite and I’ve been hooked ever since.īut there was a problem.

Chewy to slightly mushy, salty, briney, earthy…and utterly delightful. I removed them from the shell and popped a couple in my mouth. ( Boiled peanuts? Say what?) I broke the sopping wet, softened shell open with my fingers as the salty brine dripped to the ground and was welcomed by a row of cute purple-skinned peanuts all hugging each other in a perfect row. I grabbed a bag and took it to the checkout. I looked at her with a grin, nodding in approval. I thought, “ Muscadines? What are those?” I popped one into my mouth and felt my teeth cut through the thick skin as the jelly inside exploded and I tasted the most concentrated grape flavor imaginable – like Concord grapes on steroids. We hopped in the car and she took us to two roadside stands.įirst stop: Muscadines. My husband’s stepmom is a born and bred Georgian and I gave her the task of filling in any gaps I was missing from my own research. You know, the hidden gems that only true Southerners know about. I also wanted to experience truly traditional Southern foods. several years earlier but this was my first time to the South and I was excited to go sightseeing. It all started about 9 years ago when we visited my husband’s parents in Georgia. Enjoy this favorite Southern snack food at your social gatherings, barbecues, picnics, and tailgate parties! This Boiled Peanuts recipe is super easy and lends itself to all kinds of fun flavor variations. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to boil peanuts to replicate those fabulous roadside boiled peanuts you know and love. An iconic Southern delicacy, boiled peanuts are a unique and delicious comfort food that are symbolic of Southern hospitality.

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